USPS Defends Election Mail Integrity with Strict Hatch Act Compliance and Multi-Layered Security Protocols

The integrity of election mail handled by the United States Postal Service (USPS) is underpinned by stringent federal regulations and comprehensive security measures, according to recent discussions on the matter. Concerns regarding the process often center on the political activities of USPS employees and the security of mail-in ballots, which the Postal Service addresses through established protocols. These measures aim to ensure a non-partisan and secure election process, even as some observers suggest they require significant public trust.

A core component of safeguarding the process is the Hatch Act, a federal law that restricts the partisan political activity of federal and Postal Service employees. While on duty, in uniform, on government property, or using a government vehicle, USPS employees are prohibited from engaging in partisan political activities, such as endorsing candidates or tampering with mail. The law aims to ensure federal programs are administered in a nonpartisan fashion and to protect employees from political coercion in the workplace.

Despite these restrictions, employees retain certain political freedoms when off-duty, including voting, assisting in voter registration drives, and donating to political organizations. The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) oversees compliance with the Hatch Act, with violations potentially leading to disciplinary actions ranging from suspension to removal from employment. This dual approach balances employee rights with the imperative of maintaining a neutral federal workforce.

For election security, the USPS employs robust chain-of-custody protocols for ballots, along with bipartisan oversight and enforcement by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Mail-in ballots are subject to multiple safeguards, including tracking systems like Intelligent Mail barcodes, signature verification, and secure storage. Election officials collaborate closely with the USPS to ensure proper handling and timely delivery of election mail, which constitutes a small fraction of the total mail volume handled by the Postal Service.

The USPIS, the federal law enforcement arm of the USPS, actively monitors election mail from its entry into the postal network until delivery, working to prevent and mitigate any interferences. According to the tweet from Mike Lee, those defending these practices emphasize that "election security in this context is guaranteed by chain-of-custody protocols, bipartisan oversight, and federal law enforcement via the Postal Inspection Service." However, Lee concludes that such reliance "requires Americans to put a lot of faith in the USPS."