As you probably know, the war on voting includes a campaign to eliminate voting by mail.
donald has now issued a proclamation instructing the Postal Service to deliver ballots only to people whose names appear on a list approved by the federal government.
There are many obvious flaws in this plan. People who oppose it point out that
- the states, not the feds, have authority over elections
- governing elections by executive order, rather than by Congress, is not legal
- the lists would rely on DHS databases known to have serious errors
One problem I have not seen mentioned is not really about voting, but about the Postal Service. Normally, USPS delivers the mail. Someone addresses an envelope or package, pays the postage, and it is delivered to the addressee. The Post Office does not determine whether you are entitled to receive the mail that is sent to you. Thus, junk mail for every person who ever lived at this address is still delivered, even though they haven't been here in years. Birthday cards will be delivered even if it isn't really your birthday. I can use a pen name or have things sent to my imaginary friend at this address. The Post Office is in the business of delivering mail, not screening and determining whether the recipient deserves it.
Aside from interfering in elections, Dear Leader's order, if carried out, would set the precedent of allowing the Postal Service to filter your mail and decide what you're allowed to have.