Key facts
- A whistleblower alleges the U.S. Postal Service is developing a flawed computer system for mail voting under President Trump's executive order.
- The system could potentially prevent millions of Americans from receiving mail-in ballots on time or at all.
- The whistleblower claims a 'zero percent' rule could lead to the discarding of all ballots if any single error is found.
- The Postal Service has been working on the system rapidly, with a goal of having it ready for midterm elections.
- The executive order and its implementation have faced legal challenges, including a restraining order from a federal judge.
A whistleblower has alleged that the U.S. Postal Service is rushing to implement a flawed computer system designed to comply with President Donald Trump's executive order on mail voting. The system, which could potentially disenfranchise millions of voters, is reportedly being built in a fraction of the time typically required for such complex IT projects.
The whistleblower's statement, released by Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, contends that the Postal Service's new procedures could lead to the rejection of entire batches of mail ballots due to a single scanning error. This hurried development is occurring despite legal challenges and a temporary halt ordered by a federal judge, which the administration is appealing.
President Trump's executive order, signed in March, aims to restrict mail voting by requiring states to provide lists of verified voters and for ballots to comply with new Postal Service rules, including bar codes. Election officials have warned that the system may not be ready before mail ballots begin going out in states like North Carolina.
The Postal Service reportedly restarted work on the portal on July 29, after an initial halt and while the administration was appealing a judge's order to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court's conservative majority recently allowed the appeal, momentarily clearing the way for implementation, though a federal judge has since issued a new 14-day restraining order. The Postal Service did not comment on the allegations.