USPS Halts Development of Mail Voting System After Court Ruling

Why it matters locally: Given Vermont's high rate of absentee and mail-in ballot usage in elections, the halt in development of a national mail voting system could prompt local election officials to review existing mail-in voting infrastructure and communication with the USPS.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy stated Thursday that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has stopped development on a computer system designed for mail voting. This halt follows the Supreme Court's rejection of an executive order this week. The executive order related to former President Donald Trump's efforts to regulate mail voting. The USPS had been working on the system, which represented a central element in discussions surrounding mail-in ballots during the previous administration. DeJoy's announcement clarifies the agency's current position on the system's future development.