Washington Democrats are denouncing changes in the U.S. Postal Service they believe threaten the right to vote and to have your vote counted. The new postmaster general has been ordering changes in the way mail is handled, just as COVID-19 will force more people than ever to cast mail ballots.
David Yao is vice president of the American Postal Workers Union in Seattle. “There’s a new rule that all the trucks have to leave on time. So, whether the mail is on the truck on not, they have to leave. So sometimes, mail gets left behind,.” he said. He went on to say, “It’s kind of upsetting to see these high service standards we hold ourselves to, — we’re just not able to follow that if we’re following these new rules.”
The changes have local Democrats sounding the alarm.
State Rep. Gael Tarleton is running to become secretary of state, Washington's chief elections officer.
“After four years, we have had no reason to trust the Trump administration when it comes to securing our vote and protecting our democracy.,” she said.
With the Post Service so crucial to the election, Democratic leaders are interrupting the August congressional break. On Saturday, the House plans to vote to reverse changes instituted by President Donald Trump's administration, such as removing sorting machines.
“Literally working to commit election theft. That’s what they are setting us up for. Vote theft. There is no other word for it,” said Seattle congresswoman Pramila Jayapal.
Trump told reporters, “No, not at all. I wouldn’t do that. No, I have encouraged everybody to speed up the mail, not slow the mail.”
South Sound congressman Denny Heck responded, “Mr. President, I have a message. We will not let stand your attack on American democracy on the vote or on our treasured United States Postal Service. Period. Full stop.”
Current Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman has said she doesn't believe the Postal Service changes will have much impact on our elections.
But Tarleton supports action Gov. Jay Inslee may take using his emergency powers. “Expanding ballot boxes, requiring counties to mail ballots out earlier, extending the election certification deadline so that we can count every vote.,” Tarleton said.
Wyman came under criticism for not loudly denouncing the Trump administration changes as dangerous to democracy.
She responded in a phone interview that she doesn’t want to politicize policy. And she’s confident the Postal Service won’t have much of a negative impact on Washington’s elections.