Good morning

On June 2 the USPS published a proposed rule to allow the federal government to decide who gets to vote by mail. The rule, a response to an executive order signed by Trump, would require states to send USPS a list of every voter slated to receive a ballot by mail. USPS could then refuse to send said ballot to anyone not on an approved list.

There are still ten days left for people to comment on the Postal Service’s proposal to limit mail-in voting. Although unconstitutional on its face (and also violative of the Administrative Procedure Act because it’s arbitrary and capricious, an abuse of discretion, and not authorized by law) the proposed regulation, if adopted, will require substantial work to overcome. The number of comments can be important--the proposed regulation to keep state bars from disciplining DOJ attorneys generated more than a million, and perhaps because of that, it has not been issued.

The Postal Service claims that it is exempt from the APA (the statute it cites does not seem to say that), so comments must be made by email — greatly reducing the opportunity to submit them anonymously. Still, it is easy to comment and everyone who can should do so.

You can submit public comment directly! Email [email protected] using the subject line “Ballot Mail.” Include your full name and address in the email, along with a few sentences explaining why this rule would harm voters in your community. Personalized comments carry the most weight.

5 Calls has more information here if you feel like you need more background.

That, and our weekly protest at Mast’s office are your WCID’s for today. Will a police officer join us again? ( I use the editorial us).

Thanks for protecting our democracy

Barbara & Ginger