Whistleblower Raises Concerns About USPS and Midterm Elections

A whistleblower report warns that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) might impact the midterm elections by deploying “untested” technology to restrict mail-in voting. The report highlights issues in the USPS’s plan, which aligns with President Trump’s directive to curb mail voting.

The USPS’s approach, which requires states to submit absentee voters’ information through an online portal, is currently halted by a court order. Nevertheless, preparations continue for the system’s launch. Insufficient testing concerns arise as described by the whistleblower, represented by Whistleblower Aid, which was submitted to USPS by Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.

“USPS leadership, it appears, has discarded all best practices as they speed the project to be ready for a September 1 implementation,” the disclosure stated.

The disclosure suggests that if the courts permit the plan to proceed, flaws in the online portal may prevent timely delivery of mail-in ballots, affecting absentee voters. A “zero-percent failure policy” poses another challenge, as it may delay ballots through repeated verification cycles.

The USPS has not responded to NPR’s inquiries about the whistleblower’s claims. Meanwhile, Senator Blumenthal has urged Postmaster General David Steiner to abandon this plan, allowing Americans to vote without postal interference. Blumenthal criticized the system’s design and expressed disbelief at the findings.

President Trump defends the directives aimed at curbing illegal voting, though it is reportedly rare according to studies. A temporary restraining order was issued by a federal judge in Boston, stating USPS’s plan is likely illegal. The ruling is under appeal, and the Supreme Court may need to resolve ongoing legal disputes.

Election officials and mail-in voters continue to navigate the uncertainties resulting from the legal battle over this issue.

Editor’s note: USPS supports NPR financially.