Postal

• A coalition of nonpartisan voter service and civic organizations has filed for a preliminary injunction in federal court to block a final rule issued by the U.S. Postal Service regarding mail ballots. • Plaintiffs argue the USPS lacks congressional authorization for the rule and that it violates the Constitution's separation of powers by interfering with state-led election administration. • The legal challenge asserts that the current USPS policy is unlawful and risks disenfranchising millions of eligible voters by disrupting the delivery of mail-in ballots.

• A federal judge is reviewing whether to extend a ban on proposed U.S. Postal Service (USPS) changes to mail ballot handling for the upcoming midterm elections. • Judge Talwani previously blocked the administration's implementation of an order from Donald Trump in June, citing concerns that the changes were being introduced too close to the election. • The Supreme Court recently ruled that the initial block was premature because the USPS had not yet published the specific regulations governing the order's application.

• Over 20,000 ballots were rejected in Washington’s recent primary election because they arrived after the legal deadline. • This figure represents a significant increase in rejected votes compared to the 2024 totals, sparking concerns over systemic failures. • The surge in late arrivals has intensified fears regarding United States Postal Service (USPS) delays affecting voter accessibility.

• A whistleblower warned Sen. Richard Blumenthal that the U.S. Postal Service is launching a rushed, error-prone computer system to comply with a March executive order from President Trump. • The order requires the USPS to send mail ballots only to voters verified on citizenship lists developed by the Social Security Administration and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. • This shift is critical because approximately one-third of all voters rely on mail-in voting, and the new system requires ballot envelopes to feature specific bar codes.

• A U.S. Postal Service whistleblower has warned that the development of a new mail ballot system is being handled in a "rushed" and "sloppy" manner. • The system is being implemented to comply with an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump. • The whistleblower contends that these failures could jeopardize the mail-in voting process, which is relied upon by approximately one-third of all voters.

Move from USPS comes amid Trump administration’s efforts to restrict mail-in voting in November’s midtermsThe US Postal Service (USPS) said on ​Thursday ‌that ‌new ‌requirements for mail-in ‌voting are ​now ⁠in effect as Donald Trump seeks to crack down on the practice. The move is expected to trigger a new round of legal challenges.The Trump administration has sought to impose new rules requiring state election leaders to submit their voter rolls for inspection as part of a broader bid to increase federal government oversight over voting and elections. Continue reading...

• Two dozen Democratic-led states have filed a lawsuit to block a Trump administration order regarding the postal service's handling of mail-in voting. • The legal action follows a recent Supreme Court decision to lift an injunction that had previously blocked parts of the president's order. • Separately, polling indicates a tight gubernatorial race between Democratic state auditor Sand and Republican businessman Zach Lahn.

Rule would require states to provide federal government with information on voters in return for delivering ballotsThe US Postal Service prepared to publish a final ⁠rule late ⁠on ​Friday to impose new requirements on states to provide the federal government with information on voters before the November ⁠midterm congressional elections, despite a ​pair of court ‌orders ‌that currently block the ‌changes from taking effect.The USPS acknowledged in the text of the final rule posted online Friday, which is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register next week, that two injunctions issued by federal courts in California and Massachusetts currently bar it from moving ahead with the changes to comply with a March executive order signed by Donald Trump. Continue reading...

• A group of Democratic governors has formally requested that the U.S. Postal Service withdraw a proposed rule designed to implement an executive order from President Donald Trump. • The contested rule seeks to establish a federal list of eligible voters, which could potentially restrict the number of individuals permitted to receive mail-in ballots. • This action matters as it represents a legal and political clash over voting access and the federal government's role in managing voter eligibility lists.

Exclusive: Contract changes mean Post Office outlets inside TG Jones stores would be easier to close, with up to 60 possibly affectedThe owner of WH Smith’s former high street business is aiming to change contracts with the Post Office to make it easier to close outlets within its stores, increasing fears that communities will become “postal deserts”.TG Jones operates 180 post offices and it is understood that as many as 60 could be closed under a restructuring plan by Modella, the private equity group that renamed the WH Smith high street chain as TG Jones after buying it last year. Continue reading...

Message on private Facebook group for staff said: ‘I dumped them all in a bin. They can sack me!’Royal Mail is investigating allegations that a postal worker claimed to have “dumped” Reform UK campaign leaflets in a bin ahead of Thursday’s local elections.A post on a Facebook group for Royal Mail staff said: “My DO had reform party’s D2D today. I dumped them all in a bin. They can sack me! Idgaf!” Continue reading...

Surcharge, spurred by oil price spikes due to the Iran war, is set to take effect on 26 April and run until January 2027The US Postal Service (USPS) plans to introduce its first-ever fuel surcharge on packages to offset rising energy costs, according to a statement.The surcharge, set at 8%, is expected to take effect on 26 April and remain in place until 17 January 2027 under the current plan. Continue reading...