Fact-Checking Trump’s Claims About USPS and Mail-In Voting
President Trump’s stance on mail-in voting has been a significant issue in the lead-up to the 2020 election. He has frequently criticized the Post Office (USPS), suggesting that it is being sabotaged to hinder the democratic process. However, a closer look at the facts reveals a different picture.
Trump’s Claims and the Reality
President Trump has expressed discomfort with the extensive use of mail-in voting for the 2020 election. He has threatened to veto legislation he believes would be detrimental to the U.S. However, his claims about USPS are often misinformed.
2016 and Russia: In 2016, the topic was Russia and interference, which was later proven to be fabrications. Now, the narrative has shifted to focus on USPS, but the facts remain similar.
The left, which claims to be always trying to "expand ballot access" and accuse Republicans of "repressing the vote," has been accusing President Trump and the USPS of "assaulting," "sabotaging," or "defunding" the Post Office. These claims of removing mailboxes, restricting overtime, and removing mail sorting equipment are presented as efforts to slow down USPS to prevent mail-in voting.
The Facts Behind USPS Operations
The reality is more complex. According to USPS data, there has been a significant decline in mail usage since 2000, from 103 billion pieces of first-class mail to 54 billion in 2017. This decline is largely attributed to the internet and email.
The decrease in mail volume has prompted USPS to reduce its operations. In 2016, USPS removed over 14,000 mailboxes over five years, under the Obama-Biden administration. This reduction continues with a policy that removes mailboxes receiving less than 25 pieces of mail per day over a two-week period. Similarly, mail sorting machines are being streamlined, with 19 machines removed and 502 more scheduled for removal.
These changes have been in planning for years before Louis DeJoy took office. USPS has been downsizing as an organization, similar to other industries adapting to digital transformation.
No Evidence of Funding Cut
The media has claimed that Trump is cutting funding to USPS to slow down mail delivery for mail-in voting. However, these accusations are unfounded. President Trump has stated he will veto a bill requiring all states to use mail-in voting, citing concerns about potential partisan fraud and delays in knowing the winner.
He argues that giving states the option to use mail-in voting mounts an excuse to circumvent public health policies after polls were closed in November 2020. The House has offered funding to support USPS with mail-in voting, which would not be needed if mail-in voting had not been forced.
Dr. Fauci has emphasized that going to the grocery store is no different from voting. In fact, the USPS could easily handle an increase in mail volume, as they handled 471 million pieces of mail daily in 2017, despite having 153 million registered voters.
Partisanship and USPS Trust
Contrary to popular belief, USPS has a partisan history. The postal service unions have traditionally backed Democratic candidates, raising questions about their impartiality. Moreover, USPS has a history of undelivered mail being dumped in various locations, further undermining trust.
Mail-in voting also faces significant challenges. In New York’s recent mail-in congressional elections, one in five ballots were rejected, leading to two months of rechecking. In New Jersey, nearly 10% of ballots were rejected in municipal elections, and a Nevada election resulted in nearly 223,000 undeliverable ballots.
These examples illustrate that mail-in voting is fraught with challenges, including fraud, delays, and lost votes. Given these issues, people on the losing side may never trust the results, potentially leading to civil unrest.
Conclusion
President Trump’s claims about USPS are often misrepresentations of the facts. The decline in mail volume is a result of digital transformation, and USPS is adapting its operations accordingly. The claims of funding cuts and sabotage are unfounded, and the challenges with mail-in voting are real and need to be addressed by both sides.