Election Mail Readiness for the 2024 General Election

Submitting OIG:

Report Description:

The U.S. Postal Service is responsible for processing, transporting, and delivering the nation’s Election and Political Mail. The Postal Service is committed to fulfilling its role in the electoral process when policy makers choose to use the mail as a part of their election system. The Postal Service has specific policies and procedures on the proper acceptance, processing, delivery, and documentation of Election and Political Mail.

Date Issued:

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Agency Reviewed / Investigated:

U.S. Postal Service

Submitting OIG-Specific Report Number:

24-016-R24

Location(s):

Agency-Wide

Type of Report:

Audit

Questioned Costs:

Funds for Better Use:

Number of Recommendations:

Report updated under NDAA 5274:

View Document:

Attachment	Size
24-016-R24.pdf	8.63 MB

Related Open Recommendations

Recommendation Number	Recommendation Status	Significant Recommendation
1	Open	Yes
Provide oversight and implement additional monitoring controls that verify Election and Political Mail policy and procedures are being followed at all facilities. controls that verify Election and Political Mail policy and procedures are being followed at all facilities.
3	Open	Yes
Work with Divisional Directors and District Managers at all the facilities to provide stand-up talks and training to all employees and maintain evidence the training was conducted as well as post the stand-up talks and relevant procedures around the workroom floor.
4	Open	Yes
Clarify the pitch-catch-clear process to include timeframes and the elections for which this process is required.
5	Open	Yes
Develop and implement a process for delivery units to segregate Election Mail identified as Postal Automated Redirection System Mail prior to sending it back to a mail processing facility.
6	Open	Yes
Update the postmarking policy so that all operations can postmark mail-in ballots.
7	Open	Yes
Clearly communicate the postmarking policy to all operations.
8	Open	Yes
Develop and implement a plan to communicate Election and Political Mail processing, transportation, and delivery processes to any facilities impacted by the Local Transportation Optimization initiative, including those with mail that crosses state lines.
9	Open	Yes
Create a plan so that the Regional Processing and Distribution Centers have appropriate procedures and resources in place to prioritize election and political mail processing.

Recommendation Number

Recommendation Status

Significant Recommendation

Additional Details

Open

Yes

Provide oversight and implement additional monitoring controls that verify Election and Political Mail policy and procedures are being followed at all facilities. controls that verify Election and Political Mail policy and procedures are being followed at all facilities.

Open

Yes

Work with Divisional Directors and District Managers at all the facilities to provide stand-up talks and training to all employees and maintain evidence the training was conducted as well as post the stand-up talks and relevant procedures around the workroom floor.

Open

Yes