USPS audit finds training gaps and handling errors in primary election mail
An Office of Inspector General audit identified insufficient staff training and procedural lapses at several Postal Service facilities that handled primary election ballots, though nearly 99% of tracked ballots were delivered on time.
The U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General released an audit showing that some facilities failed to follow proper procedures when processing primary election mail ballots. The report, dated Sept. 4, cited a lack of training for staff, inadequate tracking of ballots and errors that caused delays, raising concerns about postmarks and timely delivery.
The audit noted that while most visited facilities generally complied with USPS election policies, about 12% of the 82 locations examined had management unaware of correct postmarking practices, and roughly 30% of delivery units lacked posted election-mail training materials. Instances of hand-postmarked ballots with incorrect dates were also documented, including 56 mis-dated ballots in Pennsylvania on primary day.
Despite these issues, the audit found that nearly 99% of the 6.3 million tracked ballots reached election officials within the agency’s definition of “on time,” a slight increase from the previous year. The Postal Service responded that overall ballot-mail performance remains strong, acknowledging isolated incidents and committing to reinforce internal processes before the November election.
The findings arrive as the Supreme Court considers a petition to allow new rules, based on a 2020 executive order, that would require the Postal Service to use voter lists to determine ballot distribution. Election officials and the American Postal Workers Union have warned that the proposed changes could be difficult to implement and risk disenfranchising voters. Experts said the audit underscores the need for clearer guidance and stricter enforcement of existing policies.