Mail-in voters caught up in court fight over USPS ballot rule : NPR

Key Points:

• Kelsi Kiper, a military spouse and Texas voter, is considering spending around $2,000 to vote in person due to uncertainty over USPS's handling of mail-in ballots amid ongoing legal battles over new federal mail ballot requirements.
• A federal judge has blocked USPS from enforcing new ballot delivery rules that require specific barcodes and voter list sharing, citing likely illegality and potential voter disenfranchisement, but the Trump administration is appealing the decision, with rulings expected soon.
• Election officials in states like Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii warn that complying with USPS's new mail ballot requirements is logistically impossible on short notice and could cause widespread confusion, delays, and disenfranchisement, especially in vote-by-mail states.
• A whistleblower report raised concerns about USPS's untested new ballot processing systems potentially delaying or preventing ballot delivery; the USPS inspector general is investigating, while USPS leadership maintains quality and security standards have been met.
• Vulnerable voters—including disabled individuals, out-of-state students, language minorities, overseas military, and their families—face heightened risks of disenfranchisement if the USPS plan proceeds, with some considering costly alternatives like flying to vote in person or using private courier services.