Last Day to Comment!
USPS "Ballot Mail for Federal Elections" Proposed Rule
We in LWVDenver have a unique view of this proposed rule as we heard from Amber McReynolds, Chair, Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service, at our Annual Meeting in May just as the proposed rule was announced. She emphasized that much of the proposed rule was already best practice recommendations with which Colorado complies. However, USPS Postmaster General David Steiner has testified the U.S. Postal Service would withhold mail ballots from states that do not submit to the federal government lists of people who have requested absentee or mail ballots. LWVUS strongly recommends we send in public comments in opposition to the proposed rule.
There are two ways to comment.
1) You can use this link to use the LWVUS form for easy submission.
Take Action Now
Or, if you have more time:
2) We have heard that it is more effective to send an email comment in your own words. Email comments, containing the name and address of the commenter, may be sent to: PCFederalRegister@usps.gov, with a subject line of “Ballot Mail.” Address the comments to Mr. Dale Kennedy.
Here are some talking points to consider:
- As the Post Office is independent of the White House, we do not believe the USPS must comply with Executive Order 14399. Complying threatens USPS independence.
- We agree with the USPS, as it states in this proposed rule, that it "does not have any legal responsibility for management of state voter rolls or administration of federal elections within each state."
- The proposed standards for ballot envelopes are best election-mail practices, but the implementation timeline is unrealistic for both the USPS and local election offices, especially in this midterm election year. We urge states to adopt these standards on their own in a more reasonable timeframe.
- The Mail-In and Absentee Participation List would create a duplicative step of data entry and review that endangers voters’ personal information under the Privacy Act.
- We urge the USPS to provide national online access to all public comments in this rulemaking process.
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The Primary Election has come and gone. So glad we were able to offer voters a chance to hear from the candidates! |
Think Before you Ink!
- DO SIGN
- Initiative #195 - Graduated Income Tax Initiative (see more info below)
- DO NOT SIGN
- Initiative #177 - Right to Natural Gas
- Initiative #232 - Income Tax Rate
- Initiative #234 - Plain Language Ballot Questions
- Initiative #283 - Repeal Constitutional Right to Abortion
- Initiatives #287- Colorado Independence, #288 - Colorado Citizenship, #289 - Immigration to Colorado, #290 - Replacing United States in Colorado Laws and Constitution, #291-Tax and Spending Adjustments to Replace Federal Funds, #292- Colorado Participation in Foreign Affairs, #294 - Colorado Seizure of Federal Property, #296 - Replacing United States in Colorado Constitution, #297 - Replacing United States of America in Colorado Constitution, #298 - Replacing Federal in Colorado Laws and Constitution, #299 - Colorado Militia, #300-Colorado Oaths of Office and Constitutional Conventions, #301 - Peoples Right of Self Governance. (The Legislative Action Committee Leadership Team is covering these initiatives as a group as the analysis of them is the same for all of them)
- Initiatives #308 and 309 - Designate Sporting Goods Sales Tax Revenue for Conservation
- Initiative #362 - Mail Ballot Voter Identification
- Approved for the 2026 Ballot
- Proposition NN - State Public K-12 Education Funding -- SUPPORT
- Initiative #85 - Penalties for Fentanyl Crimes -- OPPOSE
- Initiative #95 – Law Enforcement Reporting Requirements to Federal Authorities -- OPPOSE
- Initiative #108 - Penalties for Human Trafficking of a Minor -- OPPOSE
- Initiative #109 - Male and Female Participation in School Sports -- OPPOSE
- Initiative #110 - Prohibit Certain Surgeries on Minors -- OPPOSE
- Initiative #175 - State Revenue Collected to Support Road Transportation -- OPPOSE
- Full information on the LWVCO website.
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