Schumer announces investigation into Postal Service policy changes

[Hoyt]

4. While such a report might help improve confidence in mail voting, I bet the report comes back

with findings such as:

1. Removal of blue mailboxes was no different than past years. 240,000 blue boxes have been removed since 1985. Due to reduction in letter mailing, there is less need for blue mailboxes. In fact, almost every originating site, home, etc., is there own mail box.

2. We have excess capacity in letter sorting machines as a result of the internet. We have 25 to 50% more sorting machines than really needed.

3. Delays were not due to sorting machines or blue boxes. Live birds, medications, etc., are not likely mailed through blue boxes or run through the flat letter sorters that have been removed because of excess capacity.

4. Overtime has long been an issue in the USPS. We encourage efforts to reduce overtime, including hiring full-time employees if more staff is needed.

5. In any event, the USPS will be held to a standard of delivering local ballots within 3 days of receipt. All ballots going to other states shall be delivered within 5 days. If necessary, USPS will approve overtime to handle influx of mail ballots, beginning mid-October.
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Truthfully, I would have rather our Congress people were concentrating on getting enhanced unemployment to those who really need it, after it ran out 3 weeks ago.