A voter-outreach effort by the U.S. Postal Service drew a rising backlash on Monday as election officers in a number of states warned voters that the embattled company was offering inaccurate details about the best way to vote within the Nov. 3 election.
The statements by officers in West Virginia, Maryland, Utah and Washington state come after a federal decide in Colorado on Saturday ordered the Postal Service to stop supply of postcards he stated contained “false or deceptive info” about the best way to forged ballots by mail.
The Postal Service says it’s making an attempt to adjust to the order, though most of these postcards in Colorado have already been delivered. It has requested U.S. Decide William Martinez to reverse his choice.
“The intention of the mailer was to ship a single set of suggestions that supplied basic steering permitting voters who select mail-in voting to take action efficiently, no matter the place they stay and the place they vote,” spokeswoman Martha Johnson stated.
The dispute comes after cost-saving measures ordered by new Postmaster Louis DeJoy led to widespread mail delays in August, inflicting some to query whether or not their ballots shall be dealt with correctly. DeJoy suspended these adjustments within the face of widespread public outrage.
The postcards in query, mailed nationwide final week, inform voters to request mail ballots at the very least 15 days earlier than the election.
Nevertheless, a number of states — Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Hawaii and California — mail ballots robotically to all registered voters.
Election officers in Washington state and Utah advised voters they don’t must request a poll.
In Colorado, the secretary of state’s workplace plans automated telephone calls to clarify that the Postal Service mailer comprises inaccurate info, spokesman Steve Hurlbert stated.
Officers in Maryland and West Virginia additionally stated the Postal Service’s really useful deadlines conflicted with their state legal guidelines.
California’s secretary of state, Alex Padilla, advised Reuters he was “deeply involved” in regards to the potential for voter confusion.
“State and native elections officers have needed to spend a major period of time correcting election misinformation and disinformation,” Padilla stated. “This USPS postcard, with out enter from elections officers, doesn’t assist.”
