The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Dec. 23, 2024

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

We reported in September on concerns from election officials on whether the U.S. Postal Service could meet its mail ballot delivery obligations. The USPS issued its report in early December. How did it do? 

Reasonably well, according to the Postal Service. Election officials’ biggest pre-election concern involved consolidation of sorting centers around the country adversely affecting the Postal Service’s own delivery standards.

In its report issued December 3rd, USPS management paints a picture of an election with few problems, citing a 97.73% delivery from voters to election officials within three days, 99.64% within five, and 99.88% within seven.  But the Postal Service’s own new standard for local first class mail is one to three days, and seven days for mail traveling across the country.   It’s not yet known how many ballots were not delivered on time and not counted. States like Kansas won’t process mail ballots arriving AFTER election day, so despite USPS reminders to return ballots early, a yet unknown number of ballots were not counted. 

USPS was helped by far fewer mail-in ballots in 2024 than in 2020.  Expanded early in-person voting combined with laws making mail voting harder, saw mail-in voting drop to only 5% of ballots cast in Georgia, from 26%, and to 28% in Florida, down from 44%, according to Voting Rights Lab.

USPS says better mail ballot design for automation and visibility, longer timelines by election officials, and more education of mail-in voters will improve delivery.

We have the report linked at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
U.S. Census Bureau – What Methods Did People Use to Vote in the 2020 Election?
American Democracy Minute – US Postal Service Slowdowns Concern State Election Officials; Will DeJoy’s Leaner USPS Deliver Ballots in Time?

U.S. Postal Service – 2024 POST-ELECTION ANALYSIS REPORT

U.S. Postal Service –  SERVICE STANDARD CHANGES
Voting Rights Lab – How State Election Laws Shaped Voting Patterns in 2024
U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy – Testimony Before the House Committee on Oversight and AccountabilityPew Research –Voters Broadly Positive About How Elections Were Conducted, in Sharp Contrast to 2020

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #USPS #VotebyMail #VoteatHome

The post USPS Issues Upbeat Report on Ballot Delivery Performance for the 2024 General Election, But Lower Use of Mail-In Ballots was Likely the Biggest Factor appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 12, 2024

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

November 6th, the Mesa County, Colorado district attorney’s office announced charges against two women who allegedly stole mail-in ballots, filled them out and submitted them in an attempt to test the ballot signature verification process.

News site Colorado Politics reports that a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier, Vicki Lyn Stuart, allegedly provided Sally Jane Smith with 16 mail-in ballots intended for citizens in Grand Junction Colorado. 

When county election officials found signature discrepancies, one intended voter contacted by the election office said they had not voted, and another voter, using the state’s ballot tracking system, said the system showed he had voted, when he had not.  Local officials alerted the Colorado Secretary of State’s office, and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation launched an inquiry in late October. 

Smith is accused of filling out and returning the ballots, and faces six counts of felony identity theft, two felony counts of attempting to influence a public servant, and six counts of forgery.    Mail carrier Stuart faces 16 counts of felony identity theft, 16 felony counts of forgery, and attempting to influence a public servant.   If convicted, both women face substantial fines and/or prison time.   Smith is a registered Republican, and Stuart, an independent.

Such election fraud is so infrequent, it rarely if ever affects election outcomes. 

We have links to the detailed local reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Colorado Secretary of State – Ballot Fraud Scheme Under Investigation in Mesa County
Colorado Newsline – Multiple fraudulent ballots returned in Mesa County, Colorado election officials say
Colorado Politics – Two Mesa County women arrested in alleged fraudulent mail-in ballot scheme
Colorado Newsline – 2 Mesa County women arrested in fraudulent ballot scheme

Brennan Center for Justice – Extensive research reveals that fraud is very rare.

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and SHARE!  

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #VotebyMail #Colorado #VoterFraudArrests

The post Colorado Women Arrested for Allegedly Stealing and Submitting Mail-In Ballots to ‘Test’ Election Security appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Oct. 31, 2024

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

Time has run out for mailing a mail-in or absentee ballot, but if it’s already mailed, there are tools for tracking its status.  If it hasn’t been mailed, officials advise delivering it to an election office or official ballot drop box instead.

Internal U.S. Postal Service rules require postal employees to expedite official ballot mail.  Since 2020 though, consolidation of sorting centers has delayed first class mail, particularly in rural areas, and hurricane damage has posed other delivery challenges. 

In Georgia, where a record 3.2 million citizens voted early in person or by mail, election officials now advise absentee or mail ballots be brought to the local election office.   Georgia’s restrictive election law won’t count your ballot after election day, even if it’s properly postmarked.

Eighteen states allow ballots postmarked by election day to be counted after election day.  But the Kansas Secretary of State recently complained to the USPS that in the state’s primary, over 1,000 ballots were delivered without a postmark, and couldn’t be counted under Kansas law.

Five states, Arkansas, Connecticut, Louisiana, North Dakota and Vermont, require hand-delivered ballots BEFORE election day, though some of those states allow delivery to the precinct before close or election day. 

Find links to Vote.org’s resources on state deadlines and ballot tracking tools at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
U.S. Postal Service – U.S. Postal Service is Ready to Deliver the Nation’s Election Mail
U.S. Postal Service – Explainer on How the USPS Handles Election Mail
Vote.org – Track Your Ballot or Ballot Application
National Conference of State Legislatures – Receipt and Postmark Deadlines for Absentee/Mail Ballots
Movement Advancement Project – Map of States with Ballot Tracking
U.S. Vote Foundation – Where’s my Ballot? Check your State’s Ballot Tracker.

Fox 5 Atlanta – Georgians urged to drop off mail-in ballots as early voting continues breaking records
Associated Press – Kansas Secretary of State sends letter with concerns over mailed ballots
Spotlight PA – Elections 101: Why some Pa. counties have mail ballot drop boxes and others don’t

Check Your Voter Registration:

• U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
• USA Vote Foundation – Registration, Eligibility, State Election Office Links
• Vote.Gov – Register to Vote in Your State
• Vote.Org – Check Your Registration to Vote
  
  

Please follow us on Facebook and SHARE!  

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #MailBallots #DropBoxes #USPS

The post If Your Mail-In or Absentee Ballot is in the Mail, Here’s How to Track It.  If it’s Not, Hand Delivery to Your Election Office or Drop Box is a Safer Bet.  appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Sept. 26, 2024

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

GOP challenges to state laws allowing the counting of properly postmarked mail ballots after the election takes on more significance when considering chronic U.S. Postal Service delays. U.S election officials are worried.

Trump-appointed U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced consolidation of another 30 central sorting facilities earlier this year, of an expected 150 such closings.  DeJoy has since delayed the closings until January 2025.

But in a joint letter September 17th, the National Association of Secretaries of State, and the National Association of State Election Directors pointed out lapses in USPS delivery standards.  QUOTE,  “In nearly every state . . .  local election officials are receiving timely postmarked ballots well after Election Day and well outside the three to five business days USPS claims as the First-Class delivery standard.”  

Other problems cited include poor training and a perceived lack of action from USPS management.  A Kansas election official quoted in the Guardian noted ballots delivered on time, but without postmarks, invalidating them under Kansas law.   To criticism that the USPS is unprepared for the election,  Postmaster General DeJoy told a reporter, “They’re wrong.” Unquote. 

Voting by mail is still safe, secure and convenient.  Allowing 10 days for delivery, and curing of any ballot problems will help make sure your vote counts.

We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – GOP Challenge to Mississippi Mail Ballot Deadline Law Likely to Set Up U.S. Supreme Court Challenge with National Consequences
U.S. Postal Service – Postmaster General Louis DeJoy Defines Change Imperative and Touts Modernization Progress in 2024 National Postal Forum Keynote
U.S. Postal Service – List of Sorting Centers Under Review for Closure or Consolidation
National Association of State Election Directors – NASED, NASS, and Local Election Official Associations Send Joint Letter to USPS Postmaster General
The Guardian – US Postal Service delays threaten to disrupt election voting, officials say
The 19th – Voting by mail? Election workers are worried about issues at the Postal Service

Groups Taking Action:
Save the Post Office, Vote at Home Institute, Public Citizen

Check Your Voter Registration:

• U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
• USA Vote Foundation – Registration, Eligibility, State Election Office Links
• Vote.Gov – Register to Vote in Your State
• Vote.Org – Check Your Registration to Vote
  
  

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE!  

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #VotebyMail #USPS #LouisDeJoy

The post US Postal Service Slowdowns Concern State Election Officials; Will DeJoy’s Leaner USPS Deliver Ballots in Time? appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

Listen!

Today’s Links

Articles:
Associated Press – New USPS election division will oversee mail-in ballots
Washington Post –  DeJoy is poised to remake a resurgent USPS. Now comes the hard part.
Washington Post  – Senate passes $107 billion overhaul of USPS, lauding mail agency’s role in pandemic response
U.S. Postal Service Inspector General Report  – Vote by Mail and the Postal Service: A Primer
Groups Taking Action:
League of Women Voters US, ACLU, Common Cause,Voting Rights Alliance

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

In 2020, a highly-suspect U.S. Postal Service slowdown directed by newly-appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy created doubt in the postal system’s ability to deliver mail-in ballots. The USPS just announced a permanent division to deal with election mail volume, but will it be enough to restore confidence?

Last week, the USPS announced the Election and Government Mail Services division, tasked with training “election mail strike teams” in communities and postal districts in all states and U.S. territories.

The USPS says that in 2020, it delivered 135 million pieces of outbound and inbound election mail, with 97.9% of ballots delivered from voters to election officials within three days. And 99.89% of ballots were delivered within seven days. Unofficially, there were stories of heroic postal workers who prioritized election mail at the local level, even defying management directives, to deliver on time. A July 14th release from USPS trumpets an on-time delivery of 94% for first class mail for its fiscal year fourth quarter.

Louis DeJoy, the businessman and Trump donor appointed as Postmaster General is still in place despite widespread calls for his removal. He points out in an interview with the Washington Post that his fiscal remake of the USPS has just begun. In March, Congress passed a $107 billion dollar restructuring plan, which may include the shuttering of 18 sorting facilities and shortening local post office hours.

Articles and a report by the Postal Service Inspector General’s office are at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post ADM for August 11, 2022: USPS Creates Division for Overseeing Election Mail – But Will it Restore Confidence? appeared first on American Democracy Minute.