We mailed 64 letters, packages in battleground states to check on mail delays. Here's what we found

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Matt Wynn, USA TODAY

Two weeks before the election, there are signs that delays continue to plague the U.S. mail, a tracking effort by the USA TODAY Network and the University of Maryland’s Howard Center for Investigative Journalism found.

Of 64 letters and packages sent short distances within battleground states since mid-September, 14 took longer than the U.S. Postal Service’s own three-day service standard for first-class local mail. Most of the problems arose in Michigan, although Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida each had at least one late arrival.

Eight of the shipments took a week or more to get to their cross-town destinations, including one letter that still has not arrived, according to the post office’s online tracking system. The missing letter was put in the mail two weeks ago, on Oct. 6.

Although the mailings were too small in number to determine whether widespread delays are occurring, the erratic results make it hard to know whether or not your ballot will arrive at the elections office by the legal deadline. Millions of people are likely to vote by mail this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, and most are registered Democrats.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/we-mailed-64-letters-packages-in-battleground-states-to-check-on-mail-delays-heres-what-we-found/ar-BB1aff1f?li=BBnb7Kz

[idziak4ever1234]

1. This goes nicely with many states insisting that all ballots be postmarked by election day.

I guarantee you that there will be stories across this country where ballots were intentionally delayed so they would arrive too late to be counted.

[Orrex]

2. Proud to say that I dropped mine off directly at the courthouse on Monday

I hate that so many are not fortunate enough to have access to that option.


I'm voting for Biden, incidentally.

[brooklynite]

3. My wife sent a check to From NYC to Washington DC...it arrived in two days.

[ecstatic]

7. Neither of those places are swing areas.

I assume dejoy was instructed to unleash chaos in purple states.

[csziggy]

12. An office I do business with sent me a receipt via first class mail

They mailed it July 9 and got it back August 21 as "unclaimed." First class mail does not have to be "claimed." The post office box it was addressed to is in the same post office that mail to and from that office is routed through. It should have taken at most two days to arrive. After six weeks the post office returned the letter.

This is the same post office branch that routinely "loses" packages from Amazon and tells me to simply request a replacement. Some of the Amazon packages that do arrive have been opened and taped back up. I guess whatever was in that order was not something the postal employees wanted that week.

My husband and I applied for a box at that branch before it even opened, so it's not as though there any confusion with previous box holders.

Oh, and the same things happen with packages delivered by USPS to my street address. Packages do not arrive, or are delivered to other locations. Last week they left a pile of boxes on the ground, next to the street, visible to anyone driving down our rural road. The street box is not visible from anywhere on my farm, so I was lucky a friend saw the packages and brought them to my door. I wonder how many other packages left on the street have disappeared that way.

Since deliveries to my PO Box AND to my street address are not secure, I don't know how I can get reliable deliveries any more.

[captain queeg]

4. I have not received my mail in ballot yet (my state does all mail)

They were supposed to be sent out late last week. I’m not too worried yet but if I don’t get it by this time next week I’ll go in and get a replacement. And I plan I’m taking mine direct to a ballot collection box. It’s a pretty blue area so not too worried but not taking any chances either.

[Thekaspervote]

5. This is your daily friendly reminder..do NOT trust your ballot to the mail!! PLEASE

[ecstatic]

6. I've had issues sending stuff to Michigan. nt

[Peace06]

8. Here is more

I mailed an envelope Prime delivery from Pa to Fl on Sept 15th. It arrived on October 8th on 2 day guaranteed delivery (Prime). I can provide proof. Just send me an email or text address. I couldn't figure out how to paste the tracking record here.

Currently, I have a regular mail in process to same destination that was mailed Oct 1st. It still has not been received as of Oct 20th.

Surely this is not the only destination that is suffering. Prior mailings took 4 days and occasionally 5 days, but never more.

[Peace06]

9. Making light of tragic situation

Ah, de joy of changes at USPS!

[marybourg]

10. Not changes, sabotage.

[Peace06]

13. Sabotage

So true! See my post 2 above this one entitled, Here is another. DeJoy just lies and denies and keeps up his sabotage and will keep going until after election.

[demosincebirth]

11. I got a text confirming that my ballot arrived and will be counted.