Baldwin and Evers warn USPS delays threaten Wisconsin's 500,000 mail-in voters.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Gov. Tony Evers sent a July 23 letter that warned severe USPS delays could disrupt absentee ballot delivery for Wisconsin’s August and November elections. The letter noted that hundreds of ballots in the state’s spring elections arrived after Election Day and were not counted.

Why the Concerns Matter Now

The officials urged USPS to address the delays before the fall elections. They also opposed a proposed federal mail-in voting rule tied to a Trump executive order that would require states to provide voter information to USPS or risk further ballot-delivery problems. The timing is significant because the spring experience showed ballots missing deadlines even in local contests.

Madison’s Reported Ballot Arrivals

Madison election officials also reported late-arriving ballots in the spring election. The clerk’s office received additional ballots via USPS on Election Day and the next morning. These arrivals occurred in the same period when hundreds of ballots statewide reached offices too late to be counted.

Key Numbers Cited in the July 23 Letter

The concern is especially significant in Wisconsin because about 500,000 voters, or 15 percent of the electorate, used mail-in ballots in 2024, according to the letter quoted in the reporting. The July 23 letter used these figures to illustrate the scale of potential disruption if USPS performance does not improve before the August and November elections.

Practical Steps for Voters

Residents who plan to vote by mail can monitor delivery timelines through their local clerk’s office and consider earlier return dates to reduce the risk of delays. The letter from Baldwin and Evers emphasizes the need for USPS improvements without setting new deadlines for voters.