US watchdog to conduct review of whistleblower warning on mail-in voting rules

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, Sept ‌8 (Reuters) - The U.S. ​Postal ​Service Office of Inspector General said on Tuesday it plans to conduct an independent review of allegations from a ‌whistleblower who has warned proposed USPS mail-in voting restrictions ⁠could result in thousands of legal ballots being discarded.

On Friday, a federal judge in ‌Boston extended a ban ‌stopping President Donald Trump's administration from implementing a new USPS rule that would tighten mail-in voting requirements ahead of the November congressional ​elections.

Last week, President Donald Trump's administration asked the Supreme Court to let it enforce the new USPS rule on use of ⁠mail-in ballots.

Lawmakers have urged USPS to halt work on new mail-in voting rules, saying they ​threaten the integrity of the November congressional elections. They cited a whistleblower who warned that USPS' planned “verification” systems "risk collapsing the absentee ​ballot system and disenfranchising millions of ‌Americans."

The USPS regulation would impose new voter-specific data and ballot envelope standards, and potentially refuse the delivery of ⁠ballots that do not comply, which critics say could disrupt thousands of legitimate votes as the November 3 vote approaches.

Republicans are locked in a tight ⁠battle to retain control of Congress in the elections. Critics say restricting mail-in ​ballots would disproportionately benefit Republicans given that Democratic voters traditionally have been more likely to use mail-in ballots.

Under the new USPS rule, states must provide lists ‌of mail ballot recipients to the postal service and use agency-approved outbound and return ballot mail envelopes ‌outfitted with unique barcodes. The postal service could then refuse to send ⁠out ballots that do not ‌comply with the new ​standards or are associated with voters who do not appear on the lists.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by ‌Aurora Ellis)

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