Cause for Concern? Union for Postal Workers Endorses Kamala Harris

The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), representing 290,000 active and retired postal workers, has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for President and Governor Tim Walz for Vice President. This endorsement is notable given the pivotal role the Postal Service will play in the upcoming election, handling millions of mail-in ballots.

The NALC’s endorsement highlights a troubling intersection of politics and election logistics. As the very institution responsible for managing a substantial portion of the voting process, the Postal Service’s support for a particular candidate could undermine public confidence in the electoral system. The endorsement of Kamala Harris, who has been a prominent advocate for expanding vote-by-mail and supported key legislative measures impacting the Postal Service, is particularly concerning.

If you vote by mail you have to give your ballot to someone whose union has endorsed one side in the election. How this is even legal at all is completely baffling. https://t.co/uOjXYPGfrk

— Joel Pollak (@joelpollak) September 13, 2024

Kamala Harris has a well-documented history of advocating for policies that favor increased access to vote-by-mail. Her tenure as a senator saw her championing relief measures for the Postal Service during the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting the Postal Service Reform Act as Vice President. While these actions might seem supportive on the surface, they also raise questions about whether such support is reciprocated in the form of endorsements from influential institutions like the NALC.

The endorsement by a major union also highlights a broader political divide on the issue of vote-by-mail. A Pew Research Center report reveals stark contrasts between Republican and Democrat views on this matter. While a significant majority of Democrats advocate for universal vote-by-mail, only a fraction of Republicans share this view. Many Republicans are concerned that expanding vote-by-mail could compromise election security, a sentiment reflected in their opposition to judicially mandated reforms that were frequently pursued by Democrats.

In many democracies around the world, vote-by-mail is either restricted or not widely used, often limited to specific circumstances. The United States’ reliance on this system, especially following changes imposed by judicial decisions and legislative reforms, diverges from global norms and introduces a host of potential vulnerabilities.