Inslee rebukes Trump, defends mail-in voting and the U.S. Postal Service
In recent days, President Donald Trump has made threats about the U.S. Postal Service and its hand in mail-in voting.
Late Monday, Gov. Jay Inslee pushed back, rebuking Trump’s claims and threats and lauding the state’s mail-in ballot system.
“Mail-in ballots are the easiest, safest, most reliable voting method there is and Washington’s vote-by-mail system is proof of that,” Inlsee said.
Since 2005, the state of Washington has been one of just five states to conduct elections by mail-in voting. During a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has required social distancing and put a hold on many public gathering norms, many other states have become interested mail-in balloting.
“Our system has worked well for years without incident, and I am confident it will continue to ensure strong and dependable access to democracy for the people of our state.”
In recent days, images of mail boxes being removed have been seen all over the country, prompting Inslee to discuss the value that the U. S. Postal Service brings, especially during this time.
“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 governor said in a statement. “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.”
For information on registering to vote or requesting a mail-in ballot, go to https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/register.aspx. For more information on the U.S. Postal Service and its latest updates, go to https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/.
This story was originally published August 18, 2020 at 11:50 AM.
