Unfounded Claims About President Trump's Impact on USPS and Mail-In Voting
President Trump's claims about cutting funding to the USPS to prevent mail-in ballot delivery during the November election are highly unfounded. In reality, the USPS delivers over 427 million letters a day. Even if all Democratic voters were to mail in their votes twice, it would represent a minimal fraction of the USPS's monthly mail volume, making it a roundoff error.
USPS's Reliability and Gotham Revenue
How Slowly funding moves through government
Funding processes for government initiatives are notoriously slow. This is particularly true for large-scale and complex projects like the USPS budget, making it virtually impossible for Trump to cut funding in a manner that would significantly impact mail-in ballot delivery before the election.
Revenue Windfall for the USPS
Financial Impact of Mail-In Voting
Despite the challenges, mail-in voting is actually a financial windfall for the USPS. Let's consider the worst-case scenario: 50 million out of 125 million voters cast their ballots by mail in 2016. For each voter, the USPS would handle at least two mailings - a request for the ballot and its return, potentially more for larger ballots. This alone would generate over $100 million in revenue, far exceeding any emergency funding requests.
With the majority of USPS's costs being fixed, the additional revenue from mail-in voting translates to substantial profits. For each additional letter, the cost to the USPS is minimal, making the extra revenue a significant source of profit.
Myth Busting: The 25 Million Dollar Myth
Insufficient Funds for Mass Mail Voting
Claims that 25 million dollars would be enough to prepare the USPS for mass mail voting are grossly exaggerated. Preparing for such a significant change would take years, not months. The extensive infrastructure, personnel training, and logistical adjustments required to handle a vast influx of mail-in ballots would be far beyond the scope of a mere 25 million dollars.
Legislative Mandates and State Responsibilities
No Refusal, Only Unintended Mandates
Trump is not refusing anything; rather, he is dealing with mandates from Congress. There have been efforts to pass legislation requiring every state to send mail-in ballots to all voters. However, implementing such a mandate is a state responsibility, not a federal one. This places an undue burden on local counties, which are not equipped to handle the sudden shift to a mass-mail voting system.
Election Integrity and Local Challenges
Election Offices' Preparedness
Local election offices, which handle the administration of mail-in votes, are not prepared or adequately staffed to handle a 'tsunami' of mail-in ballots. The US Postal Service (USPS) plays a vital role in delivering these ballots, but it is the responsibility of the local election officials to ensure their proper handling, counting, and validation. Any disruptions to the USPS would significantly impact the integrity of the election process.
Trusting the USPS is the least of the voters' worries. The critical issue lies in the current setup and staffing levels of local election offices. For example, election offices may not handle voters from multiple counties, not to mention the influx of mail-in ballots from people who typically vote in-person. Ensuring voter integrity during a pandemic is a pressing concern that requires comprehensive planning and coordination.
In conclusion, President Trump's claims about cutting funding to the USPS to prevent mail-in ballot delivery during the November election are baseless. The USPS's mission to deliver mail will continue, and the revenue and efficiency gains from mail-in voting benefit the USPS significantly. The real challenges lie in the preparedness of local authorities and election offices to handle a mass shift to mail-in voting, which requires time, resources, and planning to implement effectively.