I would like to tell a story about my grandfather because it is a story that shaped how I look at voting and what democracy means in our country.
My grandfather grew up in Macon, Georgia, during a time when people who looked like him were denied the right to vote. He spent most of his life watching decisions get made for him instead of by him. When he finally got the opportunity to vote, he never missed an election.
One day I saw him leave the house, and he told me he was on his way to vote. I did not even know there was an election that day! He said, “I’m going to vote for the dog catcher.” My grandfather voted for everything. He saw it as a privilege and an obligation.
This man understood, more than many, the importance of voting, because it was not a right that was given to him. He was almost my age when he first was able to vote. And it is why I feel so strongly about Vote-by-Mail.
This is not about Democrats. It is not about Republicans. It is not even about Independents. This is about whether every American who wants to can participate in democracy.
What is wrong with making it easier for people to vote? The answer is simple. Nothing is wrong with it. That is why our livestream in May was titled “Who’s Afraid of Vote-by-Mail?”
Vote-by-Mail does not give anybody special treatment. It gives people access to vote and to have a say in who represents them. As postal workers, we understand that better than anyone.
For more than 250 years, the Postal Service has kept America connected. We move prescriptions. We move paychecks. We move birthday cards. We move letters from loved ones. And yes, we move ballots.
Our job is not to decide who somebody voted for. Our job is not to decide who should vote. Our job is to move the mail. And we do that well. The USPS reports that since 2020, postal workers delivered over 97% of ballots in federal elections to election officials within just three days. That number jumps to over 99.8% of ballots delivered within one week.
Postal workers take extraordinary pride in what we do. During election season, we take additional, extraordinary measures to ensure ballots move quickly and securely. We understand that every ballot represents a citizen’s voice. We know what is at stake.
When people attack Vote-by-Mail, sometimes it feels like they are questioning the integrity of the people who dedicate their lives to serving this country.
This conversation is bigger than the Postal Service; it is about democracy itself
Throughout American history, every major step forward came because ordinary people demanded a seat at the table. Workers organized. Citizens marched. Families sacrificed. People gave blood, sweat, and tears so future generations could enjoy rights they never had.
We should be building on that progress. Democracy works best when more people participate, and that is why our ad, that is being rolled out around the country (see page 6), says “Vote-by-Mail: Keep It, Protect It, Expand It.”
I encourage every APWU member to get involved this election season. Register to vote. Help your family register. Help your neighbors register. Learn the issues. Participate in your union elections. Participate in your local elections. Participate in your national elections. Do not surrender a right that previous generations fought to secure. My grandfather never took voting for granted because he knew what it felt like not to have it. We owe it to those who came before us to protect that legacy.
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