New Mexico explores private carriers as backup for mail-in ballots amid Trump restrictions

New Mexico’s elections office is preparing a contingency plan to bypass possible Trump-driven restrictions on the U.S. Postal Service by contracting with FedEx and UPS for ballot delivery, according to Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver. She said the state’s modest number of mail-in ballots would keep the expense reasonable and that the plan serves as a backup if federal changes hinder traditional mailing. The move follows recent court actions that have halted Trump’s attempts to curb mail-in voting, though the Supreme Court may still weigh in.

Other states, such as Wisconsin and North Carolina, have already begun sending ballots under long-standing procedures, ignoring new federal directives. Critics argue that the president’s efforts aim to suppress turnout, particularly among Democratic voters, while some Republican officials acknowledge the difficulty of complying with the proposed rules. Election experts warn that these tactics threaten democratic norms ahead of the midterm elections.