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Alright. Buckle up because this one is a wild ride. I don’t know about you, but I hadn’t been following the USPS situation closely until researching this newsletter and wow. Wow. Let’s take a journey through history to fully understand how the struggling U.S. Postal Service and a surge of voting by mail can aggravate disenfranchisement for communities of color.
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Nicole
TAKE ACTION
Sign the change.org petition to save the USPS.
Get clear on the vote by mail rules and deadlines in your state, including any initiatives to protect the right to vote by mail.
GET EDUCATED
The Trump administration has expressed repeatedly that there is “tremendous potential” for vote by mail fraud, and Trump himself has gone as far as to suggest postponing the election (Twitter). Although experts say that voting by mail is more vulnerable than voting in person, actual fraudulent incidents are rare. Of those, they have been easily detectable – like the incident during North Carolina’s Ninth Congressional District race in 2018 (NYTimes). Any fraud with the capacity to sway the outcome of a national election would be easy to identify. Five states – Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, and Utah – already conduct elections almost entirely by mail and haven’t recorded significant fraud of note (NCSL). Nevertheless, Republicans and Democrats alike call for more accountability and scrutiny to minimize harm during this unprecedented time.
It’s more accurate to argue the “tremendous potential” for vote by mail disenfranchisement than vote by mail fraud. Take the current situation in New York. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo encouraged voters across the state to participate in the June primaries through vote by mail, widely distributing mail-in ballots throughout New York City. But election staffs quickly became overwhelmed with 400,000 mail-in ballots, 10x the number of mailed-in ballots received in previous elections (NYTimes). Six weeks later, two congressional races remain undecided, and election officials fear that 20% of ballots for New York’s 12th Congressional District will be thrown out, disenfranchising over 100,000 voices (The Intercept). Similar issues in California earlier this year (PBS) and historically in other states raise the same concerns (The Intercept).
There are many reasons for a ballot to be thrown out during the counting period. Some are human error: incorrectly filling out forms associated with the ballot, forgetting to sign, or having a signature that doesn’t match their voter registration form. It is important to note that although user-driven, many of these errors disproportionately impact voters of color and language-minority voters (The Intercept). But the focus of today’s newsletter looks at the responsibility of the U.S. Postal Service, which is partially responsible for the issues in New York City. An essential part of mail-in voting relies on delivery dates: depending on the state, ballots can be disqualified if they’re not received by the election deadline, or at least postmarked by that date. In New York, thousands of voters didn’t receive their ballots until the day before the primary. Also, the U.S. Postal Service “had difficulty” processing ballots with their prepaid return envelope, potentially invalidating thousands more (NYTimes). In Michigan, currently preparing for its primary on August 4th, election administrators said they have “fielded complaints from voters who had not yet received their ballots” (Washington Post).
The U.S. Postal Service is having a rough 2020. In fact, it’s been having a tough go since the mid-2000s, when consumer habits and economic instability ravaged its revenue. Earnings plummeted as people shifted from mailing letters to sending texts with the rise of mobile devices, and the Great Recession of 2008 obliterated first-class mail volume – a high margin profit source (Washington Post). In 2019, the USPS delivered 31.4% less mail than the year prior. But in contrast, the number of individual mailboxes, P.O. boxes, and other “delivery points” typically grows by 1 million or more each year (Pew Research). Although shipping packages to same-day shipping-obsessed-consumers generates some revenue, the USPS is approximately $160B in debt (Washington Post).
With the situation looking dire earlier this year, the Trump administration appointed Louis DeJoy, a North Carolina businessman and major Trump donor, as the new postmaster general, who immediately created sweeping changes to make the USPS a more viable business model (NPR). These changes include “prohibiting overtime pay, shutting down sorting machines early and requiring letter carriers to leave mail behind when necessary to avoid extra trips or late delivery on routes” (Washington Post). DeJoy made it clear that “if we [USPS] cannot deliver all mail” because of staff shortages, “the mail will not go out,” causing concerns about its accountability to the upcoming election (The Hill).
It’s important to note here that the U.S. Postal Service wasn’t designed to be a thriving and flourishing for-profit business like FedEx or UPS, but a public service democratizing access to information – uniting a nation across its vast terrain (Washington Post). This model, though, was made possible by using enslaved people at its start, perpetuating a long legacy of racism and discrimination through inequitable pay and lack of job security through its history. That conversation is for another newsletter (Smithsonian Institute).
These changes went into effect mid-July, so let’s look at how these changes are unfolding. Across the U.S., mail service is slowing and inconsistent. In Overbrook, a community in West Philadelphia, mail delivery is taking weeks, forcing citizens to go without paychecks and medicine (Inquirer). Boxes pile up in local offices without the capacity to sort and deliver efficiently. Anonymous supervisors told the Inquirer that they’ve been instructed to leave mail behind and prioritize the delivery of Amazon packages instead (Inquirer). According to Niche, Overbrook’s demographics are 78% African American, which emphasizes a point made by COLORLINES earlier this year: communities of color – particularly in rural communities – are more likely to rely on services the USPS provides, like checks through the mail, money orders, medicine, and necessary resources during COVID-19 (COLORLINES). Consequently, we can expect that they can be disproportionately impacted by voter disenfranchisement as the election nears.
And these broad political and economic decisions also burden the postal workers on the ground. Over 630,000 people work at the USPS and represent a more diverse workforce than most of America. 23% of Postal Service workers are black, 11% are Hispanic, and 7% are Asian (Pew Research). These essential workers are critical to our democracy’s future but have less support than they did before the pandemic. Across Philadelphia, at least 133 Postal Service employees have tested positive for the coronavirus since March, and two employees have died (Inquirer). Cases exacerbate the short-staffed individuals, and the lack of overtime may make it impossible for anyone to deliver mail. One carrier is working 90 hours/week and still unable to finish his routes (Inquirer). Conditions worsen as postal workers face angry and frustrated customers on the ground or inside post office facilities. And working conditions are harder with rules like reducing “park points,” or places where carriers park their trucks to walk packages to nearby homes. By decreasing the number of times workers can stop and rest, they’re more likely to be on their feet and exposed to the outdoor environment (Washington Post).
The House Oversight and Reform Committee called a hearing to examine recent changes to the USPS. They’ve asked DeJoy tor his testimony on Sept. 17 to “examine operation changes to the U.S. Postal Service” and “the need for on-time mail delivery during the ongoing pandemic and upcoming election, which as you know may be held largely by mail-in ballot” (The Hill). And as 18 states hold primary elections this month, we’ll have greater insight on how drastically the USPS can affect elections this November. One thing is clear: we must protect our right to vote by mail, especially for those most marginalized, and rethink the role of the U.S. Postal Service so it can continue to serve us fairly and equitably.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The impact of COVID-19 is encouraging more states to promote vote by mail to participate in upcoming elections
The Trump administration continues to note "tremendous potential" for vote by mail fraud, which is factually untrue
The USPS, under new leadership, is slowing mail delivery making it more difficult for communities to receive necessary mail, including vote in mail ballots
The USPS could play a role in disenfranchising thousands of voters in upcoming elections
The shifts at the USPS disproportionately impact communities of color
RELATED ISSUES
July 23, 2020 | Know our racist presidential history.
July 21, 2020 | Honor the legacy of Rep. John Lewis.
June 29, 2020 | Don't vote for Trump.
June 24, 2020 | Fight voter suppression.
PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT
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Honor the legacy of Rep. John Lewis.
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The title of today's newsletter should say "honor the legacy of Rep. John Lewis, and C.T. Vivian, and the civil rights leaders of generations past and present that, among so much more, advocated for all voices to be heard at the polls". But this email analyzes specifically how we can respond to the outpouring of love and support for one person with actions that center the perspectives and legacy of many.
You can now update your profile to specify topics most interesting to you, like politics, education, pop culture, or relationships.
And donations are always welcomed to help keep this going. Thanks to the support of the community, we've hired a proofreader and can now hire more writers to offer more diverse perspectives – all while keeping this free. You can donate on our website, through PayPal, or Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). Or, become a monthly contributor on Patreon.
– Nicole
TAKE ACTION
1. Contact your state senator to pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act (you can text "Senate" to 50409 to send a message directly from your phone).
2. Sign the petition to rename the Edmund Pettis Bridge.
3. Find the closest landmark (street, highway, bridge, etc) to your home and review:
What is the landmark named after?
What story does it say about the community you're a part of?
Which voices does it elevate? Which voices may be minimized in the process?
GET EDUCATED
On Friday, July 17, 2020, prominent civil rights activist and politician Rep. John Lewis died after a battle with cancer. Read more about his life at CBS News, tributes from his sister and dear friend / civil rights fellow at Alabama News and NYTimes, respectively, and tribute from President Barack Obama).
His death, along with protests over the two months, re-ignited conversations about renaming the bridge where one of the most prominent civil rights events happened. (Although the petition mentioned in today’s action was created months ago, it’s important to note that people have been advocating for change for years, including another Change.org petition created by a student-led organization that received nearly 200,000 signatures over five years ago).
On Sunday March 7, 1965, hundreds of protestors, led by Lewis and Reverend Hosea Williams, participated in a nonviolent civil rights march through Selma, but were met with violence from state troopers who assailed them with tear gas and clubs when they stopped to pray. The photos of the protestors being beaten by police, including Lewis, who suffered from a fractured skull among other injuries, were circulated widely in the days and weeks following, prompting national outcry and more demonstrations. This monumental day, referred to as "Bloody Sunday," accelerated the passing of the Voting Rights Act in August that year (Politico).
But the bridge where the incident occurred, the Edmund Pettus Bridge, is named after a decorated Confederate general and a leader in the Alabama Ku Klux Klan (Smithsonian Magazine). His family, who ran a plantation and enslaved Black people, profited greatly from slavery. But his views on slavery and the Confederacy were rooted in white supremacy. As he gained recognition, first as a general in the war, then as a chairman of the state delegation to the Democratic National Convention and Grand Dragon of the KKK, Pettus was considered a “living testament to the power of whites to sculpt a society modeled after slave society” says University of Alabama history professor John Giggie (Smithsonian Magazine).
Pettus died in 1907, but the bridge wasn’t erected and named until 33 years later (remember our previous newsletter on how many Confederate symbols were erected long after the end of the Confederacy). Ironically, the bridge at the time was celebrated as “the answer to ‘The March of Progress,’ a reference to The Road to Homo Sapiens image that simplifies the evolution of man (Smithsonian Magazine). I doubt that anyone at that time expected the bridge to represent an entirely different type of march towards justice and equity for the people systemically oppressed by white supremacy.
“If the bridge is being so heavily identified with the black freedom struggle, we should be able to appreciate how much of an act of reclamation this is. People need to know that”.
Jelani Cobb, American writer, author and educator, for Smithsonian Magazine
Although the petition for the rename is gathering national attention, local leaders aren’t in agreement. Some people feel the name needs to stay – whether to encourage visitors to continue learning the area’s deep history, or simply because the bridge’s name has transcended the man it shares the name with (NYTimes).
“The name Edmund Pettus no longer is about Edmund Pettus from the Civil War, from the Confederacy. The Edmund Pettus Bridge is now a staple and symbol of civil rights and voting equity, as well as voting rights. It’s a symbol of hope, of freedom. And that’s been a name that has passed through generations”.
Collins Pettaway III, a political communications specialist and Selma native, for the NYTimes
Others advocate for renaming the bridge, but not after the late Rep. John Lewis. Some feel that this action would minimize the impact of local civil rights activists that were critical to the movement. Some call for the bridge to honor leaders like Amelia Boynton Robinson, a prominent civil rights activist who was also on the bridge during ‘Bloody Sunday,’ or Jimmie Lee Jackson, whose brutal death during a peaceful voting rights march in February 1965 sparked the marches that defined the movement (Alabama News). Rep. Prince Chestnut notes that he hasn’t spoken with a single local survivor of the attack who supports renaming the bridge for Lewis, but is in favor of “Bloody Sunday Bridge” or “Historic Selma Bridge” (Associated Press). A local group was organized to make sure the residents of Selma are heard.
A more fitting way for us to take action in honor of Rep. John Lewis is to protect the voting rights that were established in the Voting Rights Act of 1965 but reversed in the June 2013 ruling of Shelby County v. Holder. Since then, 24 states have implemented new restrictions on voting that make it difficult for many, particularly marginalized communities, from exercising their right to vote. Although the Voting Rights Advancement Act was passed by the House in December 2019 to restore more equitable practices, the bill is still stalled in the Senate. We’ve discussed this issue in full in our June 24th issue of the Anti-Racism Daily – please read to gather more perspective of this issue.
Today’s action includes signing the petition because we believe it may encourage whatever change the local community decides. But regardless of whether the bridge is renamed, and what it is ultimately called, that action is only part of how we can honor the legacy of the late Rep. John Lewis and the other civil rights activists that risked their lives that day. Our right to vote is still tenuous, and access to the ballot this November is critical for civil rights. Regardless of its name, let’s ensure the bridge is symbolic of the change we’re committed to protecting for generations to come.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The bridge that acted as the stage for "Bloody Sunday" is named after a Confederate general and KKK leader
Although national attention calls for the bridge to be renamed to honor the late Rep. John Lewis, local leaders say otherwise
Changing the name is part of a larger initiative to take down Confederacy statues and symbols
We must protect the voting rights that Lewis and other civil rights activists fought for decades ago
The Voting Rights Advancement Act, which aims to restore voting rights lost in 2013, is still stalled in Senate
Related Issues
June 29, 2020 | Don't vote for Trump.
June 25, 2020 | Fight voter suppression.
June 18, 2020 | Take down Confederate symbols.
June 17, 2020 | Learn about the history of lynching in America.
PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT
Thank you for all your financial contributions! If you haven't already, consider making a monthly donation to this work. These funds will help me operationalize this work for greatest impact.
Subscribe on Patreon | Give one-time on PayPal | Venmo @nicoleacardoza
Fight voter suppression.
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Happy Wednesday, everyone!
I've been working on a series of emails about voter suppression for a while, but the recent news in Kentucky – paired with the anniversary of Shelby County v. Holder, encouraged me to publish the first today. As the election gets closer, we'll continue to analyze how white supremacy and systemic oppression has influenced our collective right to vote.
There's been so many questions coming through that I'll dedicate each Saturday's email to answering each of them! If you haven't already, submit your questions by replying to this email. I'll do my best to answer them, and save the rest for following weeks.
Your support makes these email possible! You can donate one-time on Paypal or Venmo (@nicoleacardoza) or give monthly on Patreon to keep these going.
- Nicole
TAKE ACTION
DO THIS NOW (U.S. READERS)
Contact your state senators to encourage them to pass The Voting Rights Advancement Act.
INTERNATIONAL READERS
Consider how voter suppression may be protected – or barred – from your government. Are there disproportionate groups of people that have had difficulty participating in your most recent election?
GET EDUCATED
Accusations of voter suppression ring this morning after yesterday's state primaries – particularly in Kentucky. After delaying the vote from May until yesterday because of COVID-19, the state slashed the number of polling locations from 3,700 in a normal election year to less than 200. In Jefferson County – home to the state's largest Black population – there was just one in-person voting location in Louisville for the nearly 617,000 registered voters. Videos from yesterday show frustrated voters locked out after polls closed.
Louisville, Kentucky is where Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman, was killed by police in her home for no reason. And over three months later, none of the officers involved in the shooting have been arrested. For a state that's been at the center of the recent protests unfolding across the country, many people feel the moves were deliberate, especially because the winner from this election will take on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in November. Results are being updated here >
COVID-19 complicates the issue of voter suppression today. States have to take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, so reducing the number of polling states and encouraging absentee ballots makes sense. But we do know that this country has a long history of voter suppression, particularly against Black people, and there is more work to be done until everyone can exercise their constitutional right.
An overview of voter suppression.
Voter suppression, by definition, is when state or federal government intentionally make it difficult for people to exercise their right to vote. The Fair Fight PAC breaks down three fundamental stages of voting: voter registration, access to polls, and ballot counting. Voter suppression can happen at any stage of this process. Although voter suppression affects everyone from having a fair and democratic election, it usually directly impacts communities of color, the elderly, people with disabilities and others systemically marginalized in our country.
You can read about common examples of disenfranchisement here.
Voter suppression for Black people has been around since the beginning. Although the 15th Amendment made it unconstitutional to deny any man the right to vote based "on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude," Black men were often barred from the polls, particularly in the South, through state-wide rules and regulations that limited their rights. States implemented polling taxes – which made it to expensive for any poor person to vote – and literacy tests to thwart Black people, newly freed and often undereducated. Some states implemented grandfather clauses, which required voters to have parents or grandparents registered to vote, impossible for newly freed Black people.
In Mississippi in 1890, the state went so far to also require voters to read and interpret a section of the state constitution chosen by a local official. Over the next few years, every state followed suit, eliminating Black voters from the conversation. By 1906, more than 90 percent of African-American voters in the South had been disfranchised. Read in-depth about this process here >
The poll tax won’t keep ’em from voting. What keeps ’em from voting is section 244 of the constitution of 1890 that Senator George wrote. It says that for a man to register, he must be able to read and explain the constitution … and then Senator George wrote a constitution that damn few white men and no niggers at all can explain.
– Democrat Senator Theodore Bilbo during his campaign re-election in 1946
It wasn't until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that the federal government finally eradicated these voting laws, but seven years ago the Supreme Court significantly weakened the Voting Rights Act. In its June 25, 2013 ruling in Shelby County v. Holder, the Court rejected a provision of the Voting Rights Act that determined which jurisdictions with a history of discrimination had to “pre-clear” changes to their election rules with the federal government prior to implementing them. This gave states a free pass to make whichever rules they see fit without oversight.
Since then, 24 states have implemented new restrictions on voting. Alabama now requires a photo ID to cast a ballot. Other states such as Ohio and Georgia have enacted "use it or lose it" laws, which strike voters from registration rolls if they have not participated in an election within a prescribed period of time. In 2018, voter purges and delayed voter registrations affecting mainly Black voters plagued the Georgia governor race between Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp. Only 40% of polling places fully accommodate people with disabilities. And across the country, counties with larger minority populations have fewer polling sites and poll workers per voter.
The Voting Rights Advancement Act aims to counter these statewide initiatives with some standard for a coverage formula, giving the federal government more oversight to ensure all people can vote.
As concerns of voter suppression loomed early this week, Trump took to Twitter to warn that foreign countries will rig the upcoming elections by using mail-in ballots. Regardless of which stance you take, one thing is clear – we need a better solution to ensure all voices are heard this fall, especially in the midst of a global pandemic.
Note: A major part of voter suppression is felony disenfranchisement, which will be discussed in full in another newsletter in early July. Here's an overview if you're curious now.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Voter suppression is a persistent part of our nation's history
COVID-19 complicates providing a fair and just voting process
Black people have systemically been deprived of their right to vote
PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT
Thank you for all your financial contributions! If you haven't already, consider making a monthly donation to this work. These funds will help me operationalize this work for greatest impact.
Subscribe on Patreon | Give one-time on PayPal | Venmo @nicoleacardoza