As the midterm elections approach, the role of the U.S. Postal Service has become increasingly significant in determining the fate of Congress. With ballots soon to be mailed out, questions about the Postal Service’s ability to deliver these ballots on time have surfaced, fueled by recent changes and executive actions.
President Donald Trump’s administration has intensified its focus on mail balloting. Through an executive order, Trump aims to exert more control over this voting method, sparking concerns about potential delays. This comes after previous instances where ballots arrived late in California and Wisconsin, raising alarms among Democratic officials. Consequently, election authorities in Kansas and Michigan are urging early voters to avoid mailing their ballots and instead drop them off in person.
The Postal Service has reassured the public of its commitment to the electoral process, stating, “We provide a secure, efficient, and effective way for citizens to participate when policymakers decide to use mail as part of their elections.”
Executive Order Sparks Scrutiny
This year, the scrutiny surrounding mail delivery has heightened due to Trump’s executive order from March, which proposes a national voter list to guide mail ballot distribution. The order has led to legal battles, with its fate now resting with the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump has persistently claimed that mail balloting is susceptible to fraud, despite using the method himself. During a recent Michigan visit, he described mail balloting as “inherently corrupt.” However, a 2025 Brookings report identified only four cases of fraud for every 10 million mail ballots.
Despite the controversy, mail balloting remains popular, with nearly 30% of voters using it in the 2024 elections. In Michigan, over 2 million absentee ballots have been distributed for the upcoming primary. Jonathan Smith, president of the American Postal Workers Union, has voiced support for mail voting, stating, “We want to keep vote by mail. We want to protect it. We want to expand it… Because it works.”
Legal Challenges Intensify
In June, the Postal Service proposed a rule under Trump’s order to create a national list of eligible voters. This proposal has faced pushback, with Democratic officials filing lawsuits to block it. A federal judge in Massachusetts has already halted the order, a decision upheld by an appeals court. Nonetheless, the D.C. court deemed a separate legal challenge premature.
Democratic leaders have urged the Postal Service to abandon the order. Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin expressed concern, saying, “At best, this new push will exacerbate already severe delays for mail-in voters and at worst, it will stop eligible Americans from casting their ballots.”
While the Postal Service states that it is following court rulings, Smith from the postal workers union claims that USPS staff are still working on a voter portal. The Postal Service has declined to comment on these claims due to ongoing litigation.
Processing Changes Stir Concerns
Efforts to consolidate mail processing centers have raised concerns about ballot delivery. Mail now travels greater distances to reach regional centers, sometimes up to 500 miles. A decision to cut twice-daily mail dispatches to these centers has led to ballot delays, contributing to the rejection of over 148,000 ballots in California’s primary due to late arrival. Similar issues were reported in Wisconsin.
The Postal Service insists that postmarks are applied consistently and offers a free service to ensure timely postmarks. A USPS report from the 2024 election indicated that 97.3% of ballot mail was delivered on time.
Voters Advised Against Mailing Ballots
In response to delivery concerns, Michigan’s secretary of state has advised voters to hand-deliver their ballots. Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab humorously compared the current efficiency to that of the Pony Express. Efforts are also underway in California to discourage last-minute mailing, with a $10 million budget allocated for social media campaigns.
The Postal Service continues to recommend mailing ballots at least a week before state deadlines to ensure timely delivery.
