'Angry voters': Kansas election director on Postal Service crush

KANSAS (KSNT) - Kansas Election Director Bryan Caskey shared concerns over the U.S. Postal Service being able to handle the upcoming crush of mail-in ballots.

According to a report from The Associated Press, election directors from across the country voiced concerns over the possibility of ballots not being delivered in time to be counted in November.

Earlier this month a Kansas City Processing and Distribution Center audit found issues with operations and procedures. Delivery problems grabbed the attention of lawmakers and, as a result, the USPS Office of Inspector General launched an audit on the efficiency and delivery operations and property conditions at the Kansas City Processing and Distribution centers.

According to the audit, most of the issues stem from employee shortages, like people not showing up to work and general oversight from supervisors and managers.

"My understanding is it [Shawnee County ballots] goes to Kansas City and then comes back," Shawnee County Election Commissioner Andrew Howell said. "Again, I'm not a mail expert, I don't know exactly how the mail gets handled. I just know that we seem to have pretty good response and pretty consistent service from our local post office in Topeka, but again it's something worth watching."

Howell said there's always a risk with mailing in your ballot the mail service won't properly deliver the ballot. Additionally, Howell said voters can visit VoterView to make sure their ballot was delivered.

"I would say 1% of the time a ballot doesn't get in," Howell said. "So it is important for people to pay attention when you mail a ballot back to us."

27 News reached out to the Kansas Secretary of State's Office (SOS) regarding the concerns. Secretary of State Scott Schwab said to deliver ballots directly to your county election office "instead of putting your ballot in the hands of the federal government".

Caskey, the elections director for Kansas who's also the association's incoming president asked Steven Carter, manager of election and government programs for the postal service, to consider a hypothetical jurisdiction that has a 95% on-time rate for mail deliveries, which he said is better than what almost all states are getting.

“That still means that in the state that sends out 100,000 ballots, that’s 5,000 pissed-off, angry voters that are mad about the mail service,” Caskey told The Associated Press. “Actual elections are being determined by these delays, and I just want to make sure that you’re hearing why we’re so upset."

According to The Associated Press, Oregon, Virginia, Texas and Missouri have been blamed for degraded service.

"Secretary Schwab has consistently advised Kansas voters to handle their ballots with the same care as cash, suggesting that mailing your ballot should be a last resort," the SOS said in a statement to 27 News. "The most reliable way to ensure your mail ballot is counted on time is by dropping it off at your county election office or by using a county drop box."

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