NJ Politicians Call For Action On USPS Funding Crisis

NEW JERSEY — The U.S. Postal Service has warned New Jersey officials that mail-in ballots may not be processed in time for the November election, prompting a political firestorm over the mail-in process and concerns from both parties over threats to the election's legitimacy.

The Postal Service warned New Jersey Secretary of State Tahesha Way of the delay in a July 30 letter. At least one New Jersey politician has filed a criminal referral, while others have expressed their outrage about the state of the USPS.

USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy reversed course Tuesday, announcing the agency's proposed changes wouldn't occur until after the Nov. 3 election. The decision came after 20 attorneys general around the nation, including New Jersey's Gurbir S. Grewal, announced they would sue the USPS.

It was not immediately clear how the USPS update would impact New Jersey's election or the legal efforts against the agency.

Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. filed a criminal referral to Grewal over "Trump and (Postmaster General Louis) DeJoy's arson of the Post Office and subversion of our elections," Pascrell tweeted Monday.

Grewal later confirmed that his office does plan to file a lawsuit, but it wasn't immediately clear if the postmaster's course reversal would change that.

Congressman Chris Smith says he has repeatedly pushed for "much-needed relief" to stabilize the USPS, especially because of the role it will play in November's election.

“A critical aspect of securing our elections is ensuring our Nation has a robust and healthy United States Postal Service,” Smith said in a statement. “In the current time of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, our economy and elections are even more reliant upon a strongly supported USPS."

Smith also said county clerks, county governing bodies and the USPS have expressed concerns about voting by mail.

President Trump vehemently opposes mail-in voting. President Trump told the Fox Business Network that he's starving the U.S. Postal Service of money to make it harder for them to process the surge of mail-in ballots.

"If we don't make a deal, that means they don't get the money," Trump told host Maria Bartiromo. "That means they can't have universal mail-in voting; they just can't have it."

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New Jersey officials have criticized President Trump for his statement.

"President Trump said so himself last week, admitting that he opposed additional funding to assist the USPS because it would allow states to employ widespread vote-by-mail balloting," said Camden County Freeholder Melinda Kane. "Let’s be clear: voting by mail is a safe and reliable way to cast your ballot, and the USPS should not be subject to political attacks.”

Governor Phil Murphy announced Friday that New Jersey's election will be mostly mail-in, with everybody getting a ballot that they can send through the USPS.

If you do vote in person, you will have to do "what we call provisional voting because the folks won't necessarily know at the voting location whether or not you have already mailed a ballot in."

The funding crisis has caused controversy and confusion around New Jersey. Morristown Committeeman Mark Gyrofy shared photos on Twitter of mailboxes being taken off the street and placed on a truck on Saturday. But Mayor Tim Dougherty told the Daily Record that the large blue boxes weren't being permanently removed, but replaced with new anti-fishing boxes. Read more: Morristown Mailbox Removal Causes Uproar

BlueWaveNJ, an organization that mobilizes voters and collaborates with "progressive" groups, has organized more than a dozen "Save Our Mail! Save Our Votes!" rallies for Friday around the Garden State. Other locations include Red Bank and Hazlet.

"Donald Trump's attacks and defunding of the postal system are a direct threat to the right to vote and the integrity of the election and even now are delaying Americans from getting the medicine and mail they need," BlueWaveNJ said in a statement. "We must act now to stop this attack and protect our election process."

Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

With reporting from Justin Heinze/Patch Staff