U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has responded to warnings from state election officials regarding issues with election mail delivery during the primary season. DeJoy assured officials that the Postal Service is prepared to handle the influx of mail-in ballots expected for the upcoming November election.
DeJoy stated that most concerns raised by election officials have already been addressed, including problems with properly addressed election mail being returned and mail-in ballots arriving after election deadlines despite being postmarked on time. He emphasized that postal employees are undergoing enhanced training and that the Postal Service is in constant communication with election officials to rectify quality issues such as incorrect deliveries and returned mail.
DeJoy also pledged to collaborate with officials to prevent a recurrence of design flaws in ballot envelopes, although many envelopes have already been designed and printed. The Postal Service has established teams to handle mail flagged as undeliverable and to address any other potential issues with election mail.
The concerns were raised by the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors, amidst ongoing false claims by former President Donald Trump regarding the 2020 election results and the Postal Service's capabilities. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, election officials reported a significant increase in mailed ballots in 2020.
Both Democrats and Republicans are encouraging supporters to vote early, either in person or by mail, to ensure their votes are counted. DeJoy acknowledged temporary issues resulting from a network reorganization but assured officials that changes are being paused to prevent delays in election mail delivery.
DeJoy highlighted the Postal Service's past performance in elections, noting that nearly all ballots were returned to officials promptly in the last presidential election. He urged voters not to delay in returning mail-in ballots and recommended using drop boxes where available to ensure timely delivery.
Despite recent challenges, DeJoy emphasized the Postal Service's commitment to efficiently handling election mail and encouraged voters to take proactive measures to ensure their ballots are received on time.
