U.S. Postal Service Funding Shortfall Could Derail Vote-By-Mail Efforts During Pandemic

[RandySF]

If Congress allows the U.S. Postal Service to fail ― as President Donald Trump seems willing to do ― the nation’s ability to hold free, fair elections would be at risk, as would millions of voters who would be forced to go to the polls during a pandemic if they wanted to exercise their rights.

In the 2016 election, 33 million Americans voted through the mail, using either absentee, military or mail-in ballots. Every state anticipates a significant increase in mailed ballots due to the coronavirus pandemic, with anywhere from a doubling of vote-by-mail to a near 100% replacement of in-person voting. All of the states rely on the Postal Service to deliver and return those ballots.

But the Postal Service projects that the drop in mail volume due to the pandemic could lead it to run out of funds in late summer or early fall. The independent agency is asking Congress for $75 billion in relief funding to keep it afloat, but faces resistance from Trump.

State election officials ― Republicans and Democrats ― are joining in the call for the funding to ensure voters have every option available to them to vote in the 2020 elections, given new social distancing needs stemming from the COVID-19 crisis.

“America needs Congress to do its part to ensure the very foundation on which we conduct our elections does not crumble,” Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos (D) said.


https://www.huffpost.com/entry/postal-service-vote-by-mail-pandemic_n_5ea9c7dfc5b60db2c79d94da

[GriffenRamsey]

1. Don't care personally.

I'd wade through a warm, burbling, river of snot to vote that man out.

[riversedge]

2. Ah. so that is the Trump-GOP plan. Not to have the mail running. whow.

[beachbumbob]

3. look at people who vote by mail in the first place, many older and conservative leaning types,

a disruption in mail service will NOT help trump OR GOP. People will stand in lines to vote all the bums out on nov 3rd

[Fiendish Thingy]

4. Isn't there a budget vote between now and the November election?

If Dems can’t get funding for USPS and legislation for vote by mail, I say shut the govt down.

No money for anything, period.

[not_the_one]

5. The turd has a two step plan...

Due to the pandemic, and more and more states approving vote-by-mail

First, make sure the USPS doesn't have enough funding and can no longer be dependable for voting by mail,

Second, insist that since the USPS isn't functioning, and more and more states are insisting on allowing citizens to vote by mail, there can't possibly be a fair election.

PRESTO, we can't possibly have an election (or at least we can't until all appropriate arrangements can be made so the turd can be assured victory).

Putin sure has his work cut out for him. Not only does he have to "fix" the election, he has to also "fix" all the poles prior to the election. We can't have polls contradicting the election by HUGE margins...

Like another poster stated, I will do whatever necessary to make sure I can vote. I do think it would be a lot harder to "fix" a vote by mail election.

[Cha]

6. Isn't it mandated in the Constitution? We Need to SAVE OUR

USPS!