Louis DeJoy, the U.S. Postmaster General, has addressed concerns raised by state election officials regarding mail-in ballot delivery for the upcoming November 5, 2024 election. In a letter released on September 9, 2024, DeJoy outlined the United States Postal Service's (USPS) plans to ensure efficient handling of election mail.
The USPS, which handles about 48% of the world's mail volume, has been under scrutiny following issues reported during the primary season. Election officials warned of problems such as properly addressed election mail being returned and timely postmarked ballots arriving after election deadlines.
DeJoy assured that the Postal Service is taking steps to address these concerns:
- Enhanced training for postal employees
- Constant communication with election officials
- Dedicated teams to handle problematic election mail
- Efforts to improve ballot envelope designs
The Postmaster General emphasized the USPS's commitment to election mail, stating that it consistently outperforms regular service standards. In the 2020 presidential election, nearly 98% of ballots were returned to election officials within three days, and 99.9% within seven days.
Currently, first-class mail averages 2.7 days for delivery. However, Steve Simon, president of the National Association of Secretaries of State, and Mandy Vigil, president of the National Association of State Election Directors, maintain that significant issues remain unresolved.
The context of mail-in voting has evolved since 2020 when the USPS delivered 129.2 billion pieces of mail, including over 69 million mail-in ballots during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the numbers may be smaller this year, many voters have come to rely on mail voting.
DeJoy acknowledged that a recent network reorganization caused temporary problems but assured that changes are now being limited to avoid slowing election mail. The USPS, which employs over 500,000 career employees and operates the largest civilian vehicle fleet in the world, is preparing for the influx of mail-in ballots.
"The Postal Service is not up to the task."
Despite these assurances, former President Donald Trump continues to question the USPS's capabilities, repeating claims on social media that the Postal Service is not prepared for the task.
Both the Postal Service and state election officials urge voters not to procrastinate with mail-in ballots. They recommend returning ballots well before Election Day or using drop boxes where available. This advice is particularly important given that the USPS delivers to more than 163 million addresses in the United States.
As the election approaches, with the first batch of mail ballots sent to Alabama voters in early September, the USPS's performance will be closely watched. The service, which receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and is required by law to serve all Americans at uniform price and quality, faces the challenge of maintaining public trust in the electoral process through efficient mail-in ballot delivery.