SEATTLE, Wash. — In a statement Wednesday, researchers at the University of Washington say their study of operational changes within the USPS, driven by the Trump administration’s orders, could have already created delays that put tens of thousands of Washington ballots at risk of arriving late and being rejected.
The United States Postal Service is telling a different story.
After the Supreme Court struck down restrictions on mail-in voting in multiple states following the Trump administration’s order demanding access to information on millions of voters, the United States Postal Service says mail-in voting in the November midterms will be “business as usual.”
Despite these reassurances and Supreme Court protections against voting restrictions, some elections experts worry that the damage may already be done.
The researchers said operational changes could mean thousands of ballots in Washington state alone arrive to voters late and, as a result, are rejected.
“This could affect 20,000 or more voters who put their ballots in the US mail ahead of election day,” said UW professor and research lead Scott W. Allard. “That may sound like a small number of voters in the grand scheme of things, but those lost votes could be really consequential, particularly in rural and outer suburban communities.”
Researchers recommend voters use ballot drop boxes where available or mail their ballots a week before Election Day to ensure their votes are counted.
In a statement Tuesday, Postmaster General David Steiner said he is confident his department will deliver a ‘successful Election Mail season’.
“[W]e share a common goal: instilling confidence in all Americans that their Election Mail will be handled securely – and delivered reliably,” Steiner said.
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