Kaine, McClellan, and Virginia Lawmakers Pressure USPS to Address Election Mail Delivery

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and Representatives Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11), Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA-03), and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) call on the United States Postal Service (USPS) to ensure the efficient and secure delivery of election mail. This letter follows reports that local election officials are advising voters against using USPS to mail in their ballots.

"It is paramount that voters have confidence in USPS to safeguard one of the country's most fundamental democratic principles. Therefore, we have consistently urged USPS to be more forthcoming and transparent about the steps it is taking to guarantee the timely delivery of mail and packages," wrote the lawmakers. "Just as we have in the past, we again implore USPS to provide clear guidance and updates to voters regarding the agency's plan to handle election mail, thereby assuring voters that they can rely on USPS to deliver their ballots securely and punctually."

Over 2 million Virginians voted absentee in the last general election, and this year's turnout looks to be similar to or larger. The lawmakers requested that USPS provide information regarding the specific measures and processes it is implementing to facilitate the election mail process.

"USPS needs to provide regular updates and transparency regarding its efforts to address these issues," continued the lawmakers. "Voters deserve to be informed about actions being taken to safeguard our democracy and ensure that every eligible voter has the opportunity to participate in the electoral process."

Background: Earlier this month, Kaine, McClellan, and members of the Virginia delegation issued a statement on the USPS OIG's report on the Richmond Regional Processing and Distribution Center (RPDC) in Sandston. In March, Kaine led a bipartisan group of his colleagues in sharing USPS issues from constituents with the USPS IG. In January, Kaine led a bipartisan group of Virginia lawmakers in pressing USPS on mail delivery delays and disruptions impacting Virginians in the Richmond region and raised concerns about reports that the Richmond VA Medical Center received hundreds of colon cancer test samples that were unusable because of delivery delays. Last year, Warner, Kaine, and McClellan wrote to USPS, pressing them to address mail delivery issues in Virginia following a meeting with Virginia District Manager Gerald Roane.

Full text of the letter is available here.

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