Louis DeJoy, the U.S. Postmaster General, addressed ongoing concerns about the United States Postal Service's (USPS) handling of mail ballots for the upcoming presidential election on November 5, 2024. In a virtual news conference, DeJoy outlined the organization's plans to manage the anticipated increase in mail-in voting.
The USPS, which handles about 47% of the world's mail volume, is preparing to implement extraordinary measures to ensure timely delivery of ballots. These efforts include more frequent collection and delivery of mail ballots in the days leading up to the election, as well as keeping processing centers open on the Sunday before Election Day.
DeJoy emphasized the USPS's commitment to "rescue" ballots at risk of missing state deadlines. However, he expressed frustration with what he perceives as a lack of understanding among some election officials regarding the Postal Service's efforts.
Election officials have voiced concerns about the USPS's readiness for months. Scott Schwab, Kansas Secretary of State and past president of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), described the situation as "extremely troubling," citing issues with postmarking and timely delivery of ballots.
Despite these concerns, DeJoy referenced a recent report from the USPS inspector general, which stated that approximately 98.2% of the 10.3 million ballots mailed to election officials between December 1, 2023, and April 1, 2024, arrived on time. This statistic highlights the USPS's ability to handle large volumes of mail, as the organization delivers 425.3 million pieces of mail each day.
The Postal Service, which employs over 500,000 career employees and operates more than 31,000 post offices across the United States, faces unique challenges in managing election mail. DeJoy pointed out the difficulty of navigating the varying election laws across 8,000 election jurisdictions and 50 states.
"To operate successfully and even legally, we must have consistent policies nationwide. But there are 8,000 election jurisdictions and 50 states who are far from uniform in their election laws and practices."
Both DeJoy and election officials agree on one crucial point: voters should return their mail ballots as early as possible, preferably at least seven days before their state's deadline. This recommendation aims to mitigate potential issues with late arrivals or missing postmarks.
The importance of timely ballot delivery is underscored by individual cases like that of Jamie Miller, a Kansas voter whose primary election ballot took over three weeks to travel 3.4 miles, arriving after the deadline to be counted. Such incidents have led some voters to reconsider their voting methods for the upcoming election.
As the presidential election approaches, the USPS, which delivers to more than 163 million addresses in the U.S., continues to work on improving its processes to ensure every vote counts. The organization's unique ability to reach every address in the country makes it a crucial player in the democratic process.