'Watchdog Groups Demand Probe Into 'Voter Suppression Tactics' By US Postal Service Chief'

[appalachiablue]

'Watchdog Groups Demand Probe Into 'Voter Suppression Tactics' by Postal Service Chief—and Major Trump Donor—Louis DeJoy. "In his first month on the job, the postmaster general has already taken steps that could undermine efficient voting by mail in November." By Jake Johnson, staff writer, Common Dreams, July 31, 2020.

Government watchdog groups are demanding that the Senate launch an investigation into "potential voter suppression tactics" by recently appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a major GOP donor whose operational changes at the U.S. Postal Service have slowed mail delivery across the nation and sparked concerns about mail-in ballots in upcoming elections.

"In his first month on the job, the postmaster general has already taken steps that could undermine efficient voting by mail in November," wrote Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and Common Cause Wisconsin in a letter (pdf) to Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, which has jurisdiction over USPS.

"According to internal USPS memos, DeJoy directed USPS employees that overtime would be limited and that they were prohibited from making late trips in order to ensure timely delivery," the letter reads. "DeJoy offered these changes as a way to cut costs, but USPS has acknowledged that they will likely result in delayed mail delivery."

The letter points to a July 7 USPS Office of Inspector General report (pdf) highlighting issues "related to the timeliness of ballots being mailed to voters" during the Wisconsin primary elections in April. According to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, 2,659 primary ballots were not counted because they arrived after the state's April 13 deadline...

More, https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/07/31/watchdog-groups-demand-probe-voter-suppression-tactics-postal-service-chief-and
_______

Also: 'A Catastrophe': Postal Workers Warn Trump Sabotage of USPS Could Delay Mail-In Ballots and Distort Election
"I'm actually terrified to see election season under the new procedure," said one New York mail carrier.'
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/07/31/catastrophe-postal-workers-warn-trump-sabotage-usps-could-delay-mail-ballots-and

[Faux pas]

1. We

should be all over this shit!

[appalachiablue]

2. Our democracy is on the line, now

[chia]

3. K & R This is a hugely important story

[captain queeg]

4. I never realized how much damage could be done via the executive branch

By an executive and willing accomplices. I hope Joe fires every trump appointee on day one. Hopefully there are enough remaining g long time civil servants to rebuild a functioning government. That should be closely followed by criminal investigations.

[stillcool]

5. the hits are coming hard and heavy...

getting a little overwhelming...but it's August tomorrow! We'll get there, one way or another.