The Postal Service's proposed rule to monkey with the mail-in ballots is appalling. In the process of
figuring out how to submit comments on it (which can help in lawsuits even if it's adopted), I realized the government now has deliberately opaque way of receiving those comments.
BACKGROUND
The Postal Service filed a proposed rule to require all states to provide mail-in ballot voter lists
There's a rule-making proposed (deadline of July 2 for all comments). Mahatmakanejeves posted about it Friday here: https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=3672325
It's bad.
All states would have to provide lists of all the voters who receive mail-in ballots. There would be unique tracking codes required for each piece of the process (the envelope sent to the voter, the ballot, the return envelope). Also, there would be other required design changes and official election logos, etc.
https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2026-10968/ballot-mail-for-federal-elections Mahatmakanejeves included the link to the pdf of the proposed rule too.
THE NEW APPROACH FOR FILING PUBLIC COMMENTS
I followed the link to read the proposed rule and submit comments. Submission of comments has always been through a webform that guided you through all the required parts of the comments including the docket number. Now they just have an email address to which we submit comments.
ADDRESSES:
PCFederalRegister@usps.gov,
with a subject line of “Ballot Mail.” Faxed comments will not be accepted.
You may inspect and photocopy all written comments, by appointment only, at USPS® Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor North, Washington, DC 20260. These records are available for review Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. by calling 202-268-2906.
PUBLIC comments? Not so much. Can't see them unless in person. We can only photocopy them??
According to Regulations.gov, email only is NOT the normal process.
What would it take make the public record actually available TO THE PUBLIC? Volunteers going in and copying by hand? Uploading material to a website?