Trump pushes executive order on mail ballots as USPS delays spark election concerns

As the midterm election season approaches, the United States Postal Service has become a focal point after Donald Trump issued an executive order to establish a national list of eligible voters for mail ballots, a move that is now before the Supreme Court. The agency’s recent consolidation of processing centers has been blamed for late arrivals of tens of thousands of ballots in California and hundreds in Wisconsin, prompting officials in Kansas and Michigan to urge early-voting participants to use in-person drop-offs.

The Postal Service says it remains committed to providing a secure and efficient voting mail service, while the American Postal Workers Union, headed by Jonathan Smith, opposes using postal workers to decide voter eligibility. Democratic officials have filed lawsuits challenging the order, and a federal judge blocked it, with appeals pending. The USPS also reports that 97.3% of ballot mail in the 2024 election arrived on time, but state officials remain wary. The controversy underscores the tension between election administration and the postal system ahead of a pivotal congressional contest.