Politics
UW study warns postal changes could put thousands of Washington mail ballots at risk
University of Washington researchers say changes to Postal Service operations could delay 20,000 or more Washington voters’ ballots. The USPS says it expects election mail to be delivered reliably, while researchers advise voters to use drop boxes or mail ballots early.
SEATTLE — Changes to U.S. Postal Service operations could cause 20,000 or more Washington voters’ mail ballots to arrive too late to be counted, University of Washington researchers warned Wednesday. The estimate reflects a risk identified in the researchers’ study, not a count of ballots already delayed or rejected.
Scott W. Allard, a UW professor and the study’s lead researcher, said the potential impact could be especially significant in rural and outer-suburban communities, where a small number of votes can matter in close races. The researchers linked the risk to operational changes at the Postal Service made in response to Trump administration orders.
The Postal Service has offered a more reassuring assessment. Postmaster General David Steiner said Tuesday that he was confident the agency would have a successful election-mail season, adding that it shared the goal of ensuring ballots are handled securely and delivered reliably. The agency has described mail voting during the November midterms as business as usual.
The warnings come after the Supreme Court struck down restrictions on mail voting in multiple states, according to the researchers’ statement. They said operational changes could still affect delivery even with those restrictions overturned.
To reduce the chance of a ballot arriving late, the UW researchers recommend using a ballot drop box where one is available or mailing a ballot at least a week before Election Day. Their warning puts a spotlight on the importance of reliable mail service for voters who depend on mailed ballots, particularly in communities with fewer convenient alternatives.