Democracy Dies in Darkness

State officials rush to shore up confidence in Nov. 3 election as voters express new fears about mail voting

August 16, 2020 at 7:21 p.m. EDT
Protesters demonstrating mail delays march to the home of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy in Washington on Saturday. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg News)

President Trump’s unprecedented attacks on the U.S. Postal Service amid widespread mail delays across the country are shaking voters’ faith that their ballots will be counted, prompting a rush among federal, state and local officials to protect the integrity of the Nov. 3 election.

Thousands of voters have called government offices in recent days to ask whether it is still safe to mail their ballots, according to officials across the country. Attorneys general from at least six states are huddling to discuss possible lawsuits against the administration to block it from reducing mail service between now and the election, several told The Washington Post. State leaders are scrambling to see whether they can change rules to give voters more options, and Democrats are planning a massive public education campaign to shore up trust in the vote and the Postal Service.