As the midterm elections approach, the U.S. Postal Service is reportedly preparing to launch a problematic computer system that could disrupt mail voting, which a third of voters rely on. This development was revealed in a whistleblower statement publicized by Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal.
The project is part of President Donald Trump’s executive order limiting mail voting, which is currently paused by a court ruling but is under appeal, potentially heading to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The whistleblower alleges that the Postal Service is rushing to develop a complex system in just three months—a task that would typically take over a year—sometimes violating judicial orders to halt the work. The aim is to have the system operational for the upcoming elections.
This new system’s procedures could result in a single scanning error during ballot processing, potentially preventing thousands of ballots from being dispatched. Election officials have already warned that this system cannot be implemented in time for the initial mail ballots set to be distributed in North Carolina on Friday.
Senator Blumenthal expressed concern, stating, “The Postal Service has designed a system to disenfranchise millions of Americans,” accusing the administration of politically motivated changes to voting processes.
Contentious Executive Order Ahead of Elections
The directive from Trump, signed in March, requires the development of state citizenship lists and mandates that the Postal Service only send ballots to voters on these lists. Ballot envelopes must include new barcodes as per Postal Service rules.
The whistleblower complaint focuses on an online portal meant for states to submit their verified voter lists to the Postal Service.
A White House spokesperson, Lauren Bis, stated the software construction is “neither complex nor unique” for the Postal Service, asserting it already uses similar systems for bulk mailing. She emphasized the administration’s commitment to “safe, transparent, and honest elections.”
Despite Trump’s opposition to mail voting, he has used it himself. He has falsely blamed mail voting for his 2020 election loss, despite studies like the Brookings Institution’s 2025 report showing minimal mail voting fraud.
Since retaking office, Trump has advocated for Republicans to control vote counting in Democratic areas and has pursued a renewed investigation into the 2020 election, despite extensive evidence affirming his loss to Joe Biden.
While mail voting was once bipartisan, it has become more prevalent among Democrats since Trump’s 2020 opposition. In 2024, over 29% of voters used mail ballots.
After Trump’s order, Democrats and civil rights groups successfully sued to block its implementation before the November midterms. However, the conservative-majority Supreme Court recently overruled the lower court’s decision, temporarily allowing implementation.
The Postal Service unveiled a final rule detailing the order’s execution, requiring state-approved envelope designs and voter lists via an inactive portal. This rule prompted further legal action, resulting in a 14-day restraining order.
Concerns Over Rushed Portal Development
Blumenthal’s letter and the whistleblower’s report indicate the Postal Service began portal development on June 15, paused following a court order on June 25, and resumed on July 29 amid an appeal to the Supreme Court. The court did not lift the order until August 24.
Despite violating court orders, the Postal Service faced no penalties but was cautioned against mandating state portal usage. Whistleblower Aid criticized the expedited portal construction, highlighting the potential for significant voter disenfranchisement due to insufficient testing.
The whistleblower also criticized a “zero percent” error policy, where any ballot discrepancies could invalidate entire batches, affecting potentially millions of voters. Blumenthal hopes legal challenges will overturn this “unconstitutional and unconscionable rule” but cautioned against mail voting if enacted.
