The U.S. Postal Service could “derail” the midterm election if it continues to rush the rollout of “untested” technology, according to a whistleblower report submitted Monday by Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.
Whistleblower Aid Disclosure
The disclosure, prepared by the nonprofit organization Whistleblower Aid, was written by an anonymous federal official with direct knowledge of the development of a new USPS online portal. This system is designed to allow state election officials to submit ballot envelope barcodes and the names of absentee voters, as required by an executive order from President Trump intended to restrict mail-in voting.
September 1 Implementation Date
The whistleblower claims that USPS leadership has ignored best practices to meet a September 1 implementation date, suggesting that catastrophic failure would be a feature rather than a bug.
One specific concern cited is a zero-percent failure policy
for verifying that ballots meet the new rule’s requirements. The report warns that this “unforgiving” process could trap thousands of ballots in repeated verification cycles, potentially preventing states from mailing them.
Postmaster General David Steiner
1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
The implementation of the plan is currently hindered by legal challenges. A federal judge in Boston recently issued a temporary restraining order against the USPS, ruling that the plan is likely illegal because the agency lacks the authority to control mail-in voting. The Trump administration has appealed that decision to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
President Trump has defended the directives, stating they are a means to curb illegal voting by non-U.S. citizens.
Worth a look