Key facts
- President Donald Trump's executive order seeks to establish a national voter list to guide USPS in mail ballot distribution.
- Concerns have been raised by Democratic officials and election offices about USPS's ability to deliver ballots on time.
- The postal workers' union opposes the plan for a national voter list and its use in determining ballot eligibility.
- USPS is consolidating mail processing centers, which has been linked to delays in ballot delivery.
- Legal challenges to Trump's executive order are ongoing, with mixed rulings from federal courts.
The U.S. Postal Service has become a central figure in the upcoming midterm elections, with President Donald Trump's administration seeking greater control over mail balloting and operational changes at USPS leading to concerns about timely delivery.
Trump has repeatedly attacked mail-in balloting, characterizing it as "inherently corrupt," despite its popularity among voters and his own past use of the method. His administration issued an executive order in March that aims to create a national voter list, restricting mail ballot eligibility to those on the list. This order has faced numerous legal challenges, with a federal judge blocking it and an appeals court upholding that decision, though a separate appeals court declined to block it in another case.
Democratic officials and election offices in states like California and Wisconsin have expressed alarm over ballots arriving too late to be counted, citing USPS processing delays. Some states, including Kansas and Michigan, are advising voters to avoid mail and use in-person drop-off options. The American Postal Workers Union, representing USPS employees, opposes the national voter list plan, arguing it is not the postal service's role to determine voter eligibility. Union president Jonathan Smith indicated that IT staff are working on the voter list portal "behind the scenes," though USPS declined to comment due to ongoing litigation.
USPS has been consolidating mail processing centers, a move that has been linked to increased mail travel distances and delays. California officials stated that these changes contributed to the rejection of over 148,000 ballots in its June primary, with a significant portion arriving too late despite grace periods. The Postal Service maintains its commitment to fulfilling its role in the electoral process, providing a secure and efficient method for citizens to participate when mail balloting is used.