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Audit Reports

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Sep
26
2022
Report Number:
22-093-R22
Report Type:
Audit Reports
Category: Service Performance, Election and Political Mail

Election Mail Readiness for the 2022 Mid-Term Elections

Background

Election Mail is any mail piece that an authorized election official creates for voters participating in the election process and includes ballots and voter registration materials. The U.S. Postal Service has specific policies and procedures on the proper acceptance, processing, delivery, and recording of Election Mail.

What We Did

Our objective was to evaluate the Postal Service’s readiness for timely processing of Election Mail for the 2022 mid-term election to be held Tuesday, November 8, 2022. To evaluate readiness, during primary elections, we reviewed Election Mail policies, analyzed service performance data, and conducted observations at six Processing and Distribution Centers and 10 delivery units. We also followed up on 14 prior recommendations to determine if the Postal Service’s corrective actions were effective.

Report Recommendations

# Recommendation Status Value Management Response OIG Response USPS Proposed Resolution
1

Re-enforce policies for completing daily all clears, utilizing the Operational Clean Sweep Checklist, and requiring Election Mail to be postmarked at P&DCs.

Closed $0 Agree
2

Some or all of the recommendation is not publicly available due to concerns with information protected under the Freedom of Information Act.

Closed $0 Agree
3

Establish a policy to retain data on ballots with barcode tracking that are excluded from measurement and continue working with mailers of Election Mail to identify why ballots are excluded.

Closed $0 Agree