Every State, Every Vote: Democratic Governors Urge Federal Government to Fully Fund the United States Postal Service

The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress are playing political games with funding for the United States Postal Service in order to suppress the vote in November.

President Trump indicated last Thursday he does not support funding the Post Office because it helps with mail-in voting. Trump has spread disinformation surrounding mail-in voting in an apparent attempt to harm America’s free and fair election process.

The USPS is a critical service for every single American.

Democratic governors across the country spoke out in support of the Post Office:

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown: “During a pandemic, more Americans than ever rely on the US Postal Service, whose workers deliver essential medicine (the VA fills 80% of veterans’ prescriptions by mail), unemployment and stimulus checks, cards to loved ones, and vote-by-mail ballots. We must support the @USPS.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom: “Let me just address the issue as it relates to some of the sabotage that’s clearly intentionally being done to our postal delivery here in this country. It’s going to impact not just elections. It’s going to impact your ability to get quality care in terms of your prescriptions, your ability to get information, to be able to correspond with loved ones and the like. […] Vulnerable populations are disproportionately being impacted because of their utilization of our postal system.  I haven’t experienced this in my lifetime — I don’t know that any of us have — the weaponization of sorts of our postal system.”

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis: “Colorado is proof that vote by mail is safe, secure, and works. Period.”

Delaware Gov. John Carney: “President Trump should protect our fundamental right to vote – not interfere in the processing of ballots. It’s frankly outrageous that the @USPS wouldn’t receive the resources necessary to help conduct a safe election.”

Illinois Gov. JB Pritkzer: “This president appears to do anything to try to win the reelection, including taking away people’s voting rights in the midst of a pandemic. […] We need to have mail-in voting available to everybody. We need the postal service to work like it has for the entire history of our country.”

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: “President Trump’s attempts to sabotage the Postal Service are deeply disturbing. Americans rely on our Postal Service for prescriptions, voting, social security checks, and more. The @USPS needs to be fully funded, full stop.”

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock: “I am deeply disturbed by reports of the removal of United States Postal Service (USPS) collection boxes in Montana communities and other changes to the operations of the USPS that have caused delays in mail delivery. This is unacceptable and will do great harm to Montanans’ livelihoods. […] The services provided by the USPS are critical to the prosperity of Montana’s rural, tribal, and urban communities. Some 41% of rural Montanans do not have access to broadband internet, often relying on the mail for everything from paying their bills and accessing government services to keeping in touch with their family and friends.”

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy: “The last thing we should be doing is politicizing the Postal Service. […] Think about the seniors who rely on it for medicines, our veterans, our small businesses, the commerce associated with the backbone of this country.”

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam: “This is a deeply troubling development in what is becoming a clear pattern of attempted voter suppression by the Trump administration. […] I am committed to making sure all Virginians have access to the ballot box, and will continue to work with state and federal lawmakers to ensure safe, secure, and accessible elections this fall.”

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee: “There is no excuse for the Trump administration’s assault on democracy. The U.S. Postal Service is a vital and trusted part of all our communities. The USPS does not just deliver ballots but also medication, paychecks, supplies and other crucial lifelines. To cut back and restrict this service at any time is inexcusable, but during a pandemic it is downright abhorrent. The president should be doing less to suppress our votes, and more to suppress the COVID-19 virus.”

Read more about how Democratic governors are fighting to expand access to the ballot box at EveryStateEveryVote.com.