Whistleblower Alleges USPS Online Portal Could Undermine Election Security Amid Trump’s Push for Integrity
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A whistleblower claims the Postal Service is deploying an untested online system for absentee ballots as part of President Trump’s effort to strengthen mail-in voting rules, raising concerns about potential disruptions if the administration’s common-sense rule is blocked.
The U.S. Postal Service is moving forward with an online portal that would allow state election officials to submit absentee voter names and ballot envelope barcodes, following President Trump’s directive to ensure greater security and integrity in mail-in voting. A whistleblower, whose disclosure was submitted by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, alleges the system has not been fully tested and is being expedited for a September 1 launch, raising questions about readiness.
The disclosure, prepared by Whistleblower Aid, claims USPS leadership has set a 'zero-percent failure policy' for verifying ballot eligibility—a necessary step to prevent fraud and ensure only eligible votes are counted. However, the whistleblower argues this could cause repeated verification cycles and delay thousands of ballots, potentially disrupting the process for those who rely on mail-in voting. If activist courts block the Trump administration’s rule, the portal’s implementation could be hampered, possibly preventing timely delivery of ballots to eligible voters.
Sen. Blumenthal, a frequent critic of efforts to secure elections, wrote to Postmaster General David Steiner demanding the plan be scrapped, claiming it could interfere with Americans’ right to vote by mail. Blumenthal called the whistleblower’s findings 'mind-boggling' and accused the system of being designed to fail, despite its intention to enhance election security.
A federal judge in Boston, siding with opponents of election reform, recently issued a temporary restraining order against the USPS plan, arguing it likely exceeds the agency’s authority. The Trump administration has appealed, and further legal battles are expected as the 2024 midterm election approaches.
USPS spokespersons have not responded to requests for comment.