- Whistleblower warns of 'potentially catastrophic problems' with the U.S. Postal Service's new mail ballot system, which could disenfranchise millions of Americans.
- The whistleblower accused the Postal Service of violating court rulings by continuing to work on implementing a Trump executive order to tighten mail voting rules.
- Sen. Richard Blumenthal described the Postal Service's plans as 'secretive, rushed, chaotic, and fundamentally flawed'.
- U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani temporarily blocked the Postal Service's plans, with a decision on a permanent ban expected soon.
- The Supreme Court lifted a lower court decision regarding the Postal Service's plans, stating 'time will tell' on the legality of the actions.
- The Postal Service aims to have the mail ballot portal ready by September 1, despite ongoing legal challenges.
- The whistleblower's complaint highlighted a 'zero percent failure rate' and a batch rejection policy that could lead to widespread disenfranchisement.
- In June, a federal judge declared the Postal Service's efforts to implement the executive order as unconstitutional and blocked the agency from proceeding.
- The whistleblower's account indicates that Postal Service workers resumed work on the mail ballot portal in July, despite the court order.
- Blumenthal expressed that the Postal Service's actions could lead to chaos and confusion in the electoral process.
A USPS whistleblower has raised alarms about a new mail ballot system, claiming it is rushed, chaotic, and fundamentally flawed. The whistleblower's complaint, supported by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, indicates that the system could lead to catastrophic disruptions in the upcoming elections, potentially disenfranchising millions of voters.12310
The whistleblower's account details that the Postal Service has resumed work on the mail ballot system despite a federal judge's order to halt development. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani had previously blocked the agency from implementing the system, citing concerns over its constitutionality and potential to undermine state authority over elections.48
According to the whistleblower, the system's design is so flawed that if even one ballot fails a verification check, all ballots in that mailing could be rejected, leading to a catastrophic failure that prevents millions from voting. “This is not just incompetence, it is designed malfunction,” Blumenthal stated, emphasizing the political implications of the rushed system.
The whistleblower's complaint also highlights that the new mail ballot system was developed under pressure to meet a September 1 deadline, raising concerns about its reliability. “Taken together they present a clear picture of a fatally flawed process that cannot and will not protect American voters,” Blumenthal warned, calling the Postal Service's actions “sabotage.”6
As the judge weighs a permanent ban, the future of mail-in voting hangs in the balance, with one third of all Americans relying on mail ballots to cast their votes.
“The whistleblower's complaint, released by Sen. Blumenthal, alleges the Postal Service violated a court order by resuming work in July, and that the system's batch rejection policy could return entire mailings if one barcode fails. A federal judge in Massachusetts will decide in coming days on a permanent ban.”
Votebeat
CBS News
