TL/DR –
Donald Trump has resumed his criticism of mail-in voting as the next U.S. election approaches, suggesting that he may challenge unfavorable results just as he did in 2020. Trump has been advocating against the United States Postal Service (USPS), stating that it is experiencing unprecedented issues with lost and delayed mail, thus, it cannot be trusted to manage the mail-in voting process. However, despite his claims, the USPS states that 98% of ballots were returned to election officials within three days during the 2020 election and 99.9% of ballots were delivered within seven days, even with the high volume of mail-in ballots due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Donald Trump, replicating his 2020 approach, is prepping to dispute election results that do not favor him.
With about a month left to Election Day, voters nationwide have begun using mail-in ballots. Yet, Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has resumed his attack on mail-in voting and the United States Postal Service (USPS), responsible for delivering millions of such ballots.
In a Truth Social post on Sept. 15, Trump asserted that the USPS is a “poorly run mess” experiencing unprecedented mail loss and delays.
“Given this FACT, how can we possibly trust the USPS to run the 2024 Presidential Election,” he wrote. “It’s not feasible. HELP!”
The Postmaster General is Louis DeJoy, appointed to the role in 2020 by the USPS Board of Governors, all nominees of former President Donald Trump.
Days later, Trump stated he might sue the USPS in a conversation with media personality, Wayne Allyn Root.
They also falsely claimed that the USPS backed Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. In reality, the National Association of Letter Carriers, a union for mail carriers, endorsed her.
Moreover, the USPS neither admitted to being a mess nor does it “run” presidential elections. Trump is likely referencing concerns the National Association of Election Directors expressed about slow processing, lost mail, and inadequate training for postal workers.
DeJoy responded with assurance of the USPS’s commitment to secure and timely delivery of all ballot mail.
A spokesperson for the USPS emphasized that due to stringent processes, election mail consistently outperforms regular service.
Mark Dimondstein, President of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), responded to Trump’s comments, accusing him of spreading lies to suppress mail-in voting.
Trump has been consistent in attacking mail-in voting, even calling it “largely corrupt” at a rally in Wildwood, NJ. He has opposed funding for the USPS and spent much of 2020 criticizing the service.
Despite his constant claims of election theft and fraudulent mail-in voting, Trump and his 2020 campaign have not provided any evidence. According to USPS analyses, 98% of ballots were returned within three days during the 2020 election and 99.9% within seven days.
Trump’s attacks continue, this year with the support of wealthy tech billionaires who promote falsehoods about election fraud. Billionaire investor Peter Thiel, who has close ties to Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, suggested that Democrats will “steal the ballots” to ensure a Harris victory.
Billionaire Elon Musk, who agreed to lead a government efficiency commission if Trump is elected, promoted Thiel’s comments to his 190 million followers. Musk has also promoted lies about mail-in voting fraud linked to a white nationalist conspiracy theory.
Trump’s allies have also sought to restore Republican voters’ faith in absentee voting this year. Trump even taped a video where he stated his commitment to protect the vote.
Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that Louis DeJoy was appointed by the USPS Board of Governors under former President Trump’s administration, not by Trump directly.
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