USPS promises “dependable and timely” election mail delivery

USPS said today that it will suspend its forthcoming mail processing consolidation efforts during this year’s primary elections in the United States. The Postal Service said that following its current moratorium on plant closures, which runs until 15 May as agreed last December with the US Senate, it will aim to carry out “most” of its planned closures before 31 August 2012.

Further consolidation of facilities will then take place early in 2013, it said.

As America’s Republican Party chooses its candidate for the Presidential elections in November, US several states have primary elections scheduled in May and June following the end of the USPS network optimisation moratorium.

The Republican nomination race could continue through until the Party’s August convention if no clear winner emerges by June.

USPS said today it is setting up an Election Mail Task Force to work through all 50 states to develop strategies to address concerns of state and local election boards and to ensure timely delivery of election-related mail.

US Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said: “Mail is an increasingly important part of the US election process and we are confident in the dependable and timely delivery of election-related mail.”

USPS is aiming to consolidate mail activities from 223 of its 461 mail processing plants across the country, to trim its operating costs by more than $2bn in the wake of reduced mail volumes. The plans are contingent on adjusting First Class Mail delivery standards from a 1-3 day service to a 2-3 day service.

The Postal Service said today that its separate plans to close 3,600 post offices around the US, following the current moratorium, would not adversely affect the voting process in states that have vote-by-mail systems.

Customers had “many ways” in which to deposit their mail other than post offices, said USPS.