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USPS says Boston election mail not affected following allegations of tossed ballots
"The Postal Service has a robust and tested process for proper handling and timely delivery of Election Mail."
The United States Postal Service says no mail-in ballots were mishandled after allegations recently rose that a substitute mail carrier was allegedly caught tossing ballots rather than delivering them to South Boston voters.
“The Postal Service is aware of allegations of mishandling of mail, including some pieces of Political Mail, by an employee,” a Postal Service spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday. “No Election Mail, specifically ballots or ballot materials, were involved. All campaign mailpieces were recovered and returned to the mailstream.”
According to WBZ, Boston City Councilors Ed Flynn and Michael Flaherty said they had received complaints from voters who, as of Saturday, had not received their mail-in ballots ahead of Tuesday’s municipal election.
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Flaherty said a mail carrier was allegedly seen throwing ballots away before they could be delivered, impacting as many as 200 voters in South Boston’s Ward 6.
“I know many of those that requested a ballot are seniors, persons with disabilities and veterans,” Flynn said. “It is outrageous for anyone to intentionally disenfranchise someone’s right to cast their ballot. Every person counts and every vote matters. We respect our veterans, seniors and persons with disabilities in South Boston and I find this criminal conduct outrageous.”
The Postal Service said it requested the USPS Office of the Inspector General to investigate the allegations “and will have no further comment until that investigation is complete.”
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“The United States Postal Service is committed to fulfilling its role in the electoral process as a secure, efficient, and effective way for citizens to participate when policymakers decide to use mail as part of their elections,” the statement says. “The Postal Service has a robust and tested process for proper handling and timely delivery of Election Mail.”
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