Virginia election official discourages mailing ballots due to delivery failures: ‘Fundamental threat to our democracy’

A Virginia election official is discouraging voters from mailing in ballots due to recent delivery failures, WRIC reported Monday.

Keith Balmer, the General Registrar for the City of Richmond, warned that a number of residents have reported that the United States Postal Service has recently failed to deliver some important documents.

“The reports we’ve been receiving about delayed, misplaced, or even missing mail are deeply troubling, especially as we approach crucial electoral events like the Presidential Election in November,” Balmer stated during a town hall event last week.

Balmer acknowledged that the USPS’ “recent failures in mail delivery” have “undoubtedly caused inconvenience and anxiety among our community members.”

Instead of mailing in absentee ballots, he encouraged voters to “consider alternative methods of submission.”

“To address these concerns and mitigate potential voter disenfranchisement, I strongly recommend bypassing USPS and utilizing one of the three drop boxes located in the city for ballot submission,” Balmer said.

By circumventing the postal service and dropping off the mail-in ballots, Balmer claimed that residents “can ensure that your vote is securely and promptly delivered to my office.”

He assured voters that other options are available, including visiting an early voting location or voting on election day.

“I understand that these issues extend beyond mere inconvenience; they represent a fundamental threat to our democracy,” he added.

Balmer stated that his office plans to send voting guides to every registered voter to provide information about dates, times, locations, and candidates.

Last week, residents attended a town hall meeting to express their frustrations with the USPS’ mail delivery problems.

One resident, Rocio Carrillo, told WRIC, “It’s been difficult and very frustrating, because sometimes, if I have my cash or a payment, it doesn’t get there on time.”

“So I get overcharged or I get charged for packages that I’m not supposed to pay for,” she claimed.

“They have to get more people delivering everything so they have enough time,” Carrillo continued. “Sometimes, they don’t have enough staff and it’s very hard for them. They want a few of them to deliver everything on time or they lose track of them.”

According to the Virginia Department of Elections, 33% of those who voted in 2023 submitted absentee ballots.

The USPS told the Associated Press it is committed to “secure, timely” mail delivery. The Postal Service noted that it is working with local officials to meet its goals but is struggling in the current labor market, the news outlet reported.

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