USPS mail ballot plan could hurt voters, whistleblower lawyer warns : NPR
NPR Topics: Politics — 2026-09-02 03:43:00 — www.npr.org
President Trump’s Push to Restrict Mail-In Voting Spurs Controversy Over USPS System
President Trump has directed the U.S. Postal Service to implement new restrictions on mail-in voting, prompting the agency to build a new system for states to submit voter information before absentee ballots are mailed. This move is part of Trump’s broader effort to limit mail-in voting, a process he has repeatedly criticized.
Concerns Over Rushed Implementation
According to an anonymous federal official, the system was developed in a matter of weeks and has not undergone adequate testing. The whistleblower alleges that the rushed rollout could prevent eligible voters from receiving their ballots on time. The IT system has reportedly crashed during testing, raising further doubts about its reliability.
Legal Challenges and Potential Delays
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Postal Service from requiring states to use the new online portal, citing ongoing legal challenges to Trump’s mail voting order. The Postal Service is currently appealing the ruling. Critics argue that the process adds unnecessary requirements between states and voters, potentially delaying ballot delivery. Under the system, states would submit voter information in batches, which USPS would then sample and verify. Any issue in a sample—such as a smudged barcode—could result in an entire batch being sent back to the state.
Unprecedented Requirements
David Kligerman, a lawyer representing the whistleblower, highlighted that the system demands a “0% failure rate,” a standard not seen elsewhere in the mail system. He warned that even minor errors could trigger significant delays, undermining the goal of timely ballot delivery.
Administration’s Defense and Ongoing Lawsuits
The Trump administration maintains that the new requirements are intended to verify the recipients of absentee ballots. However, lawsuits challenging the plan argue that USPS lacks the authority to play this role. Critics, including Kligerman, question the practicality and necessity of the system, suggesting there are more effective ways to verify ballot recipients.
Conclusion
President Trump’s drive to restrict mail-in voting through new USPS procedures has sparked significant controversy, with whistleblowers and legal experts warning of potential delays and questioning the system’s effectiveness. As legal battles continue, the outcome could have major implications for the accessibility and reliability of mail-in voting in upcoming elections.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2026/09/02/nx-s1-5952211/usps-whistleblower-lawyer-reaction-mail-ballots