Tammy Baldwin

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is asking a federal watchdog to investigate why mail delivery delays led to hundreds of ballots arriving too late to be counted during Wisconsin's spring election.

Following the April spring election, Milwaukee's top election official said her office received an "unprecedented" number of mail-in absentee ballots the morning after the election, which could not be

State election officials warned voters about mail delays due to a new postmark rule, staffing shortages and other budget cuts that could keep their ballots from being counted on time.

State election officials have suggested returning ballots by mail no later than 10 days before an election.

MADISON - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is asking a federal watchdog to investigate why mail delivery delays led to hundreds of ballots arriving too late to be counted during Wisconsin's spring election.

In a letter dated June 30, Baldwin asks the U.S. Postal Service inspector general to probe the delays and "identify any remaining issues that undermine the on-time delivery of returned ballots so that USPS can resolve any outstanding concerns before Wisconsin's elections this fall."

"This is unacceptable and appears to be the result of decisions and actions by the Postal Service that are inconsistent with normal operations and threaten the ability of Wisconsinites to exercise their right to vote. It warrants an investigation," Baldwin says in the letter.

Baldwin's request for an investigation comes about a month after the state's top election officials sent their own letter urging the U.S. Postal Service to enact changes to ensure absentee ballots in Wisconsin's summer and fall elections aren't caught up in mail delays.

The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission sent a letter May 27 to Postmaster General David Steiner after two-thirds of clerks reported observing problems with the timely mail delivery of absentee ballots. Baldwin attached the letter from the commission to her request.

Following the April spring election, Milwaukee's top election official said her office received an "unprecedented" number of mail-in absentee ballots the morning after the election, which could not be counted.

"If the election mail delays that we saw this spring are not addressed, USPS is likely to disenfranchise an even greater number of voters during the fall elections, increasing the risk that eligible voters will cast a ballot that is not ultimately counted through no fault of their own," Baldwin wrote.

"Ensuring timely delivery of election mail is essential to maintaining public confidence in our elections, and delays that prevent ballots from arriving on time undermine voters' trust that our elections are fair and reliable."

The delays come after state election officials warned voters about mail delays due to a new postmark rule, staffing shortages and other budget cuts that could keep their ballots from being counted on time and have suggested returning ballots by mail no later than 10 days before an election.

In Milwaukee, for example, Milwaukee City Election Commission executive director Paulina Gutiérrez said of the 269 ballots she received the morning after Election Day, 17 had no postal date and 252 had postmarks on or before April 6, a day before Election Day. Wisconsin law prohibits the counting of ballots that arrive after the close of voting on Election Day.

In Madison, city spokesman Dylan Brogan said the clerk's office received 20 to 50 ballots via the post office on Election Day and 107 were delivered on Wednesday morning.

A spokesperson said the Postal Service was "made aware … of ballots received by the Milwaukee Election Commission after Election Day. The Postal Service takes these issues very seriously, and we are working with local election officials."

"Our longstanding recommendation to voters who choose to vote by mail is to mail early – before Election Day, and at least one week before the deadline by which your completed ballot must be received by your election office. Some states may recommend allowing even more time for mailing completed ballots."

Molly Beck can be reached at [email protected].