Postmaster General Louis DeJoy faced intense questioning from representatives on Thursday regarding the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) readiness to handle the massive influx of mail-in ballots anticipated in the upcoming presidential election. During his testimony before the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, DeJoy was pressed on USPS’s ability to process and deliver millions of ballots in a timely manner.

Concerns were raised by both Republican and Democratic representatives, many of whom cited worries from election officials, including the National Association of State Election Directors. These officials expressed doubts about whether the postal service would be able to efficiently manage the expected surge in election mail, particularly given the problems encountered in past elections.

Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) questioned DeJoy on whether USPS has a solid process in place to address issues that could arise with mail-in ballots. DeJoy acknowledged that USPS is a “large organization going through a lot of change” and admitted that the agency needs to be more proactive in anticipating potential problems rather than waiting for issues to occur. “We need to be more proactive and not just wait for issues to come to us,” DeJoy stated, emphasizing the need to build public confidence in USPS’s ability to deliver ballots securely and on time.

Hinson expressed the concerns of voters in her district, noting that “people don’t want an excuse, they want to make sure that their ballots are going to be there in time.” DeJoy responded by assuring the committee that USPS is taking all necessary measures to ensure smooth delivery. Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA) also raised questions about public trust in the process. He asked if voters could “trust” mail-in ballots to arrive on time. DeJoy responded confidently, saying, “Let me be clear, the Postal Service is ready to successfully deliver the nation’s mail-in ballots.”

DeJoy highlighted the Postal Service’s long track record of handling election mail, noting that USPS has been delivering ballots since 1864. He also pointed to the 2020 presidential election, when USPS managed to deliver 99.89% of ballots from voters to election officials within seven days, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. “We were successful in delivering a historic volume of mail-in ballots during the 2020 election,” DeJoy stated, underscoring the agency’s experience in managing election-related mail.

Still, some concerns remain. DeJoy acknowledged that not all election officials fully understand USPS’s efforts, and he admitted that it can be difficult to address generalized concerns. He reiterated that USPS is taking steps to ensure every ballot reaches its destination on time, even though some officials may not fully grasp the scale and complexity of the postal system. “The Postal Service is fully ready to successfully deliver the nation’s mail-in ballots for voters who choose to use us to vote,” he said in closing, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to the upcoming election.

The hearing underscored ongoing concerns about the security and efficiency of mail-in voting, particularly as the country prepares for another high-stakes presidential election. USPS will play a pivotal role in ensuring that millions of Americans can vote by mail, and DeJoy’s testimony highlighted both the strengths and challenges of managing such a critical task.