Folks, I’m sipping my coffee and reading about the US Postal Service’s new system for verifying mail ballots, and let me tell you, it’s a doozy. According to a whistleblower report, the process is being described as a “sh*t show” internally, and I can see why. The system is supposed to verify mail ballots, but it’s being rushed into production with barely any testing, and that’s got a lot of people worried about mass disenfranchisement. I mean, who needs testing when you’re dealing with something as important as voting, right? It’s not like it’s a new iPhone or something.
The whistleblower report, which was released by Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, alleges that some of the procedures the USPS is planning have been hidden from the public, and that the system is vulnerable to errors and discrepancies. For example, if there’s a mismatch between the voter information in the USPS system and the information on the ballot envelope, the entire batch of ballots could be rejected. That’s a lot of power to give to a system that’s barely been tested.
The report also says that the IT staff at the USPS were given less than a week to test the system, which is just crazy. I mean, I’ve seen more rigorous testing protocols for a new video game. And the leadership at the USPS is being accused of being dismissive of concerns and insisting that the system is easy to understand, even though the requirements for the system were not clearly written down. It’s like they’re trying to create a recipe for disaster.
The system is supposed to go live on September 1, but it’s not clear if it’s actually ready. A judge has already frozen the mandates that states use the system, but the Justice Department is appealing that ruling. In the meantime, election officials are getting ready to start sending out mail-in ballots, and they’re going to have to navigate this untested system. It’s like navigating a minefield, folks.
The report describes the development process as “haphazard” and says that the IT staff were shown constantly changing plans for the system. The requirements for the system were not clearly put in writing, and the leadership at the USPS was dismissive of concerns. It’s like they’re making it up as they go along.
The verification procedures for the system are also a concern. If there’s a discrepancy between the voter information in the portal and the information on the ballot envelope, the entire batch of ballots could be rejected. That’s a lot of power to give to a system that’s barely been tested. And the process is “entirely unforgiving,” according to the report, which means that even a single error could delay thousands of ballots.
In conclusion, folks, this whole thing is a mess. The US Postal Service is trying to rush a new system into production without proper testing, and it’s going to cause chaos. I mean, I’m no expert, but it seems like they’re playing with fire here. Let’s hope they get it together before it’s too late, or we might be looking at a whole lot of disenfranchised voters. And that’s no laughing matter, folks. But hey, at least it’s not boring, right? 🤦♂️
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
