USPS Employee Raises Concerns Over New Mail Ballot System

Why it matters locally: Concerns over the new Ballot Mail Tracking System could affect the security and timely delivery of election-related mail for Rhode Island voters during future elections.

---

WASHINGTON – A United States Postal Service (USPS) employee raised concerns to Congress regarding a new system for processing election mail. The employee, a logistics coordinator, stated the Ballot Mail Tracking System (BMTS) could encounter various problems. The BMTS system, developed by the Postal Service, scans and sorts incoming and outgoing election-related mail, including voter registration applications, blank ballots, and completed ballots. The system uses specific codes, such as IMB (Intelligent Mail Barcode) and IMb-TM (Intelligent Mail Barcode Tagging Mark), to identify and track election mail. According to the employee's testimony, the system’s design allows for the sorting of mail into a “waste stream” if it lacks a recognizable IMB or IMb-TM. Additionally, the employee indicated the system might not distinguish between various types of election mail, such as blank ballots and completed ballots. The employee further stated that the USPS implemented the BMTS without completing necessary operational tests. These tests would typically evaluate the system's performance and address identified deficiencies before full deployment. The employee noted that the USPS did not provide sufficient time for these evaluations. During congressional testimony, the employee detailed how a mail piece with a faulty barcode could be incorrectly processed. This could result in the system misdirecting or segregating the item, impacting its delivery. The employee also suggested the system’s design could lead to ballots being categorized as “non-tracked” mail if they do not feature specific IMb-TMs. The Postal Service implemented the BMTS with the stated goal of improving the tracking and security of election mail. The employee's testimony highlights areas for further review regarding its functionality and impact on mail delivery.