A federal whistleblower warns a new USPS ballot portal could disrupt November's elections

A U.S. Postal Service delivery vehicle is parked in a Los Angeles neighborhood. USPS is facing scrutiny over a new system designed to screen federal ballot mail. (Photo: Ekaterina Belinskaya/Pexels)

(ABNN) - Could a new Postal Service ballot system bring chaos and confusion to November's midterm elections?

Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, the ranking member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, sent an Aug. 31 letter to Postmaster General David Steiner after an anonymous federal whistleblower alleged that the U.S. Postal Service continued working on a new ballot-mail screening system while court orders were in effect.

The system was developed in response to President Donald Trump's executive order directing USPS to create new requirements for mail-in voting.

"The whistleblower's allegations also provide disturbing information suggesting that USPS may have violated a court order by continuing to implement the EO despite being ordered to cease all such work. We urge you to abandon this ill-conceived, unconscionable plan and ensure that all Americans can exercise their constitutional right to vote, including by mail, without interference by USPS," the letter said.

A federal judge issued a 14-day temporary restraining order Aug. 27 blocking USPS from enforcing key mandatory provisions of its final rule for elections through Nov. 3. The order temporarily prevents USPS from requiring states to use the portal or comply with new ballot-envelope standards as a condition of mailing federal ballots.

"The whistleblower's Disclosure describes an unprecedented process that allows USPS to decide whether ballots issued by state election officials should be mailed," the letter continued.

The whistleblower said USPS has been building an online system called the USPS Federal Ballot Mail Portal. The system would screen ballot mail submitted by state election officials before USPS accepts it for delivery to voters.

"According to the whistleblower, USPS's effort to develop and deploy the Portal has been 'rushed,' 'risky and haphazard' because leadership has demanded an impossible timeframe.

In an effort to meet impossible deadlines, USPS has eliminated standard and needed testing, thereby creating substantial risk of a 'catastrophic failure' of the system that could 'derail the midterm elections,'" the letter said.

"This brave whistleblower has come forward with disturbing details about USPS' seemingly illegal plot to interfere in November's midterms," Blumenthal said in a statement.

"Their system is set up to fail - and risk the right to vote for millions of Americans who cast their ballots by mail. Given this new information, such sloppiness and haste seems clearly part of a purposeful attempt to create chaos and prevent people from voting. I am demanding answers and accountability," he said.

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