USA/Mail in-ballots—
By Isobel Charle, producer, Oregon News Service, bureau of Public News Service.
The American Postal Workers Union is expressing relief after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked an attempt to enforce new mail-in ballot requirements, and labor leaders are urging voters to get their ballots in early.
A March executive order directed the Postal Service to send ballots only to voters on an approved list, a move the union has called unlawful and unworkable.
Daniel Cortez, president of the Oregon Postal Workers Union, said the USPS is trustworthy, but voters should be mindful of possible delays caused by recent policy changes.
Advice to voters
“Get the ballot back early. Don’t wait until the last week. The mail is secure, and it’s safe. Get it in early, and it’ll get where it needs to go on time. If it’s convenient to use a drop box, use a drop box,” Cortez recommended.
Cortez added while the Supreme Court decision is a victory, the fight is likely not over, as the ruling left the door open to implement the new rules in the future. President Donald Trump has falsely blamed mail-in voting fraud for his 2020 election loss. A 2025 report by the Brookings Institution found mail voting fraud occurred in only about four cases out of every 10 million mail ballots cast.
He noted the Postal Workers Union is working closely with Oregon’s secretary of state and other leaders to keep the public informed of any changes and combat misinformation.
“My fellow union members across the country handle billions of pieces of mail without problem. And to say that somehow the vote by mail is corrupt is ridiculous,” Cortez asserted.
Cortez said the union is also working with USPS management to find new ways to ensure the ballot system continues to run smoothly, including regular sweeps of buildings to double-check for misplaced ballots.
