The data maintained and reported by USPS has limitations and must be interpreted with caution. It is primarily useful in helping identify USPS districts that have had slower delivery times, which led LDF to request additional measures in those districts to ensure the timely delivery of ballots.
It is important to note what we learned from USPS on November 5 as it relates to the more than 100,000 ballots delivered to elections officials the previous day. The vast majority of those ballots were delivered in a timely manner, and in states where they can still be counted because of extended receipt deadlines.
On November 6, the Court ordered plant and district managers jointly overseeing processing facilities in Alaska, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, North Dakota, Ohio, and West Virginia to coordinate with all local Boards of Elections to deliver all ballots before the relevant extended state ballot receipt deadline.
Like poll workers and vote counters, the rank and file postal workers have gone all out throughout this process to ensure the functioning of our democracy. The USPS staff have taken the Court’s orders and this litigation seriously. They are not responsible for ordering the changes that created these delays. Rather, the directives that have caused the delays and other problems that LDF is challenging were made by USPS leadership.
LDF is fighting for the delivery of every ballot. People who voted by mail – to protect themselves from COVID-19 exposure in particular – deserve to know their ballot was delivered. It is a public trust that must not be betrayed.
LDF has participated in daily court hearings on this matter leading up to, during, and following Election Day, and is continuing to litigate this case at present.