A federal judge on Monday ordered the U.S. Postal Service to expedite all November election mail and to approve additional overtime for postal workers.
U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero in Manhattan, N.Y., said the postal service must treat to the extent possible all election mail as first-class mail or priority mail express and "shall pre-approve all overtime that has been or will be requested" between Oct. 26 and Nov. 6.
Marrero's opinion said that in prior elections, including 2018, the postal service typically treated election mail as first-class mail, even if it was sent at marketing mail rates.
"Multiple managerial failures have undermined the postal employees' ability to fulfil their vital mission," he wrote.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Stanley Bastian in Yakima, Wash., said he was issuing a nationwide injunction sought by 14 states in a case against President Donald Trump, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and the U.S. Postal Service over July changes to the service.
An individual deposits letters into a USPS collection mailbox in Philadelphia on Aug. 14. (Rachel Wisniewski/Reuters)
The 14 states, led by Washington, had filed a motion for a preliminary injunction asking the court to immediately halt a "leave mail behind" policy that required postal trucks to leave at certain times, regardless of whether mail was loaded.
DeJoy, a Trump supporter, said in August that he would halt many of the cost-cutting changes he put in place until after the presidential election after Democrats accused him of trying to put his thumb on the scales to help Trump, which he has denied. A surge in mail-in ballots is expected because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Postal Service spokesperson Dave Partenheimer said last week while the agency was exploring its legal options, it was "ready and committed to handle whatever volume of election mail it receives."
"Our No. 1 is to deliver election mail on time," Partenheimer said.
dinozero on September 21st, 2020 at 22:00 UTC »
We already do that. It’s literally in our operation manuals that all election mail is treated as first class mail and has been for decades.
scott81425 on September 21st, 2020 at 21:49 UTC »
Mail carrier checking in- at least in my office, we've always had to treat political mail as first class. Can't curtail it, gotta go the day we get it, etc. At least out here in western CO we don't fuck with political mail.
Edit: this blew up more than I ever could have imagined. Guys, us mail carriers want a fair election as much as all of you do. And we're doing everything we can to ensure it. If you want to thank your mail carrier for everything they do, a cold bottle of water or a popsicle on a hot day really means a lot to us. Just thanking us, means a lot to us. We hear "I don't want it if it's a bill" ALL. THE. TIME. We don't choose what you receive, we just bring it to you.
Oh, and make sure to vote if you're in the US. Even if you don't trust us, mask up, glove up, head to the polls. Stay safe, but don't be silenced, regardless of where your political beliefs lie. Agree with our system or not, there are entire countries of people out there who's voices can't be heard. Make sure yours is.
pittiedaddy on September 21st, 2020 at 20:53 UTC »
Yeah, I'm still suiting up and voting in person.