State and local election officials from across the country have expressed their deep concerns regarding the nation's mail delivery system, highlighting the potential disenfranchisement of voters in the upcoming presidential election. In a letter addressed to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, officials outlined persistent deficiencies within the Postal Service that have yet to be rectified, posing a threat to the integrity of the democratic process.

The letter, jointly written by the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors, raised several alarming issues. One major concern is the delayed delivery of mailed ballots during both the past year, including the recent primary season. Despite ballots being postmarked on time, local election offices reported receiving them days after the deadline for counting. In addition, properly addressed election mail has also been returned as undeliverable, potentially leading to voters being incorrectly marked as inactive on voter registration lists.

Reaching out to the Postal Service to address these issues has proven futile, according to the election officials. They stressed that these problems are not isolated incidents, but rather indicative of a larger systematic issue. The lack of understanding and enforcement of USPS policies among its employees is apparent and widespread, posing a significant risk to voter participation and trust in the election process.

The letter urgently implores Postmaster General DeJoy to take immediate and tangible corrective action to resolve the ongoing performance issues with USPS election mail service. Failure to do so would not only curtail voter participation but also undermine confidence in the electoral system.

The concerns raised by election officials regarding the Postal Service's impact on the upcoming election are crucial. They highlight that local election officials in nearly every state are receiving postmarked ballots after the designated deadline and beyond the three to five business days that USPS claims as the standard for first-class mail.

These concerns arise at a time when mail-in voting has gained significant popularity among voters, especially in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Over 69 million mail-in ballots were reported during the previous presidential election, a considerable increase from previous years. While the number of mail-in ballots this year is expected to be lower, a substantial portion of the electorate relies on this method, prompting efforts from both Democrats and Republicans to encourage early voting.

The letter to Postmaster General DeJoy comes as absentee voters in Alabama receive their first mailed ballots for this year's general election. It arrives less than two weeks after DeJoy's claims that the Postal Service is prepared to handle a surge in mail ballots for the upcoming election. However, criticisms from officials in rural states concerning the Postal Service's consolidation of mail-processing centers remain.

In addition to the major associations representing election administrators, the letter is signed by the current and incoming presidents of both groups, as well as leaders from organizations representing local election officials in 25 states. The potential consequences of undeliverable election mail are significant, as it triggers a process outlined in federal law that may lead to voters being labeled as "inactive" and requiring additional steps to verify their address for participation in the election.

Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, the past president of the National Association of Secretaries of State, separately raised concerns in a letter to DeJoy. He pointed out that nearly 1,000 ballots from the state's primary election in August were unable to be counted due to late arrival or lack of postmarks. Schwab also highlighted the issue of ballots arriving on time but without postmarks, rendering them ineligible under Kansas law. Additionally, postal clerks have reportedly stated that postmarks cannot be added retroactively, even in cases where the Postal Service handled the ballot before the mail-in deadline.

As the election draws nearer, the urgent need to address the ongoing mail delivery issues becomes increasingly apparent. It remains to be seen how the U.S. Postal Service responds to the concerns raised by state and local election officials, and whether corrective action will be taken to ensure that voters' voices are heard and their ballots are counted in the upcoming presidential election.