APWU members delivered a clear message to the Postal Board of Governors on behalf of the American people at its last open meeting of the year: Pull the rule that would restrict the handling and delivery of mail-in ballots.
On Tuesday, Nov. 10, APWU members from across the country spoke up at the USPS Board of Governors’ quarterly meeting. They called on postal leadership to permanently rescind the Aug. 26 rule that threatens to restrict Vote-by-Mail in future elections.
On Aug. 26, the Postal Service issued a rule to restrict mail-in ballots following a Trump Administration executive order issued in March. Although the Supreme Court put that rule on temporary hold for the 2026 midterm elections, it still exists and threatens American democracy. The Board of Governors has the authority to “pull the rule” and end it once and for all.
More than 32 million people voted by mail in the midterm elections. It is a system that works. The board should not allow a policy that threatens public confidence in the Postal Service’s neutrality to remain in place while its long-term status is debated in court.
During the meeting, APWU members discussed how the rule would affect worker safety, explaining that it could put window clerks in harm’s way. Frustrated voters could confront postal workers who had no role in the decision. They also reiterated that postal workers are non-partisan — we deliver all of America’s mail, not just Democratic or Republican mail. Lastly, they spoke about the existing safeguards for Vote-by-Mail, citing the Extraordinary Measures program, where postal workers from all postal unions expedite election mail and make extra deliveries and special ballot pickups under its “no ballot left behind” policy.
Before the Board of Governors’ meeting, APWU President Jonathan Smith hosted a press conference together with National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA) President Patrick Pitts, Rep. James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Democratic Association of Secretaries of State Executive Director Chelsea Wininger, and League of Women Voters Director of Government Affairs Jessica Jones Capparell. The press conference was followed by a rally in front of USPS Headquarters, where APWU local officers spoke, and members marched and chanted before heading into the Board of Governors meeting.
APWU President Smith emphasized that the Board of Governors has both the authority and the responsibility to rescind the rule. The board should exercise its authority to declare that the Postal Service is independent of the executive branch and should not be beholden to an executive order. Smith cited the May 31, 2019, letter that the board sent to the Treasury Department asserting its independence when the White House attempted to access the Postal Service’s contract with Amazon and its labor costs.
In his concluding remarks, President Smith said, “We are asking the board to ensure the public Postal Service does not create new barriers to public participation in elections. That is not the role of the Postal Service to create obstacles… Let’s be clear: Postal workers are watching you. America is watching you. The world is watching. And most of all, God is watching you. Do the right thing if we truly practice democracy.”
Later that evening, President Smith hosted an APWU Live titled “Pull the Rule: American Needs Vote-by-Mail.” The livestream recapped the press conference and board meeting, gave allies a chance to speak about the personal importance of Vote-by-Mail, and shared additional actions people can take to deliver the APWU’s message to the Postal Board of Governors, such as signing onto the petition at: usmailnotforsale.org/take-action.
WATCH BELOW: APWU Live ‘Pull the Rule: America Needs Vote-by-Mail’
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