­Background

The 2020 primary season is here and the Postal Service™ is preparing for the November 2020 general election. In addition to the Presidential election, there will be numerous congressional, gubernatorial, state, and local races. Thus, proper handling of Election Mail and Political Mail is critical.

Concerns have been raised about how long it takes for Election Mail and Political Mail to reach voters. The Postal Service takes these concerns very seriously. Coast to coast, plans are in place to ensure the timely receipt, processing, and delivery of Election Mail and Political Mail.

Generally, citizens use one of the following methods to cast their votes:

n In person at a traditional polling place via electronic or paper ballot on or before Election Day, or

n Through the mail via an absentee paper ballot

Although most votes are cast at traditional polling places, voting by mail is increasing in popularity across broad segments of the American electorate, and the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has accelerated this trend. Since March 2020, several states have taken legislative, executive, and administrative action to delay or cancel elections, as well as expanding access to absentee voting and other forms of voting by mail. In the 2018 midterm election, 25 percent of voters cast ballots by mail, and more voters are expected to do so during the 2020 election cycle in light of the recent changes related to COVID-19.

In late May 2020, a letter was mailed to Election Officials to remind them of several topics addressed in the 2020 Election Mail Kit (distributed in early March and in this Postal Bulletin), and to highlight some of the key aspects of Postal Service delivery processes.