Postmaster general testifies about USPS election preparations

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)– The election is 40 days away, but for those mailing in their ballots, the voting has already begun.

U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy told a House committee Thursday the USPS is prepared for the task, but some lawmakers aren’t so sure.

“Are American citizens going to be able to trust mail-in ballots?” Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.) asked.

“Absolutely. I don’t know why you wouldn’t,” DeJoy said.

Members of the House Committee pressed DeJoy about mail failures they say have caused concern for constituents.

“In Wisconsin, two-day delivery dropped 20 points,” Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) said.

Rep. Pocan says a pilot program the Postal Service put in place to help modernize the network delayed deliveries in his area.

“What do you do specifically about Wisconsin to fix our unique problem?” Pocan asked in a back-and-forth with DeJoy.

“The first rockets that went to the moon blew up. That’s what pilots are for,” DeJoy said.

“Thanks for blowing up Wisconsin,” Pocan said.

DeJoy assured lawmakers USPS can handle the surge. He says mail-in ballots made up just 0.1% of total mail in 2020.

Plus, DeJoy says every general election, USPS uses “extraordinary measures” to expedite ballots through the system.

“We rifle through 300 million pieces of mail as they move through the system, and look for ballots and pull them out,” DeJoy said.

Pennsylvania Congressman Matt Cartwright grilled DeJoy on USPS’s long-term modernization plan, saying it would slow down rural service.

“Do you really think rural Americans should have to pay the price?” Cartwright asked.

“I disagree with the premise and think it’s an unfair accusation,” DeJoy said.

DeJoy pushed back against lawmakers’ concerns, saying USPS’s long-term plans to consolidate mail processing centers won’t affect this year’s election mail.

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