This archive report was first published on 8 August 2020.
On August 7, 2020, the US Postal Service announced a significant reorganization aimed at increasing efficiency, amidst growing concerns over the impact of changes made by President Trump's postal officials on mail-in ballot delivery for the November election.
At the center of the controversy is Louis DeJoy, the postmaster general and a major donor to Mr. Trump's campaigns, who was appointed in May 2020. In a statement, the Postal Service said the new organization would 'align functions based on core business operations and will provide more clarity and focus on what the Postal Service does best; collect, process, move and deliver mail and packages.'
However, critics argue that changes to overtime policies and other actions by Mr. DeJoy threaten to slow delivery of ballots, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic when millions of people are expected to vote by mail. There have been anecdotal reports of slow mail delivery across the country, including in New York City, where thousands of ballots in a Democratic primary were invalidated due to delayed delivery.
Mr. DeJoy has denied allegations that the changes are intended to slow down election mail, stating that the Postal Service employs a 'robust and proven process to ensure proper handling of all election mail.'
Despite these assurances, Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns over the impact of the changes on mail-in ballot delivery. In a letter to the inspector general for the Postal Service, seven Democratic members of Congress urged an audit of the new policies, citing reports that Mr. DeJoy had limited overtime pay and made other changes that have slowed mail delivery.
The lawmakers, including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Gary Peters, and Representatives Carolyn B. Maloney and Gerald E. Connolly, among others, warned that the delays pose a threat to the November election, particularly during the pandemic when millions of Americans are expected to vote by mail.
