Editorial: Counties, voters can take steps to ensure safe voting, regardless of postal changes

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's announcement Tuesday that he would suspend initiatives he had set in motion ostensibly to make the U.S. Postal Service more self-sustaining financially would appear to take much of the wind out of the sails of a surging political movement that aims to block DeJoy's plans ahead of an election expected to rely on mail ballots more than any in the nation's history. DeJoy said USPS will halt cost-cutting measures underway and refrain from implementing them until after Nov. 3 "to avoid even the appearance of impact on election mail."

With President Donald Trump taking every opportunity to cast doubt about the post office's ability to handle this election, the USPS's own warning last week that it may not be able to deliver an anticipated record number of mail-in ballots on time and DeJoy's own rush to transform the service that has quickly brought mail disruptions across the country, it may be too late to forestall "the appearance of impact" prior to the election. If that is truly DeJoy's intent and the president's, both leaders will start making conspicuous efforts to instill faith in the post office and help all 50 states ensure a secure and successful operation of absentee and mail-in votes.

But there are additional aspects of this debate that apply regardless of what the president may say or the postmaster general may do.

One begins at the local level, where, thanks to recent state legislation passed to encourage voting by mail, county clerks and other local officials can help facilitate mail-in balloting by installing secure drop boxes at early-voting locations and other sites throughout the suburbs. Such boxes, as described in a Daily Herald story today involving a Lake County effort, can provide a reliable alternative for anyone fearful about security of their ballots or the possibility they won't be delivered on time.

Another involves any voter who in the midst of the pandemic reasonably may wish to avoid the potential lines and crowds at a polling place on Election Day: Self moderation.

Early voting locations will operate throughout the suburbs from Monday, Oct. 19, through Monday, Nov. 2, enabling voters to cast traditional ballots before official Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3. And voters who want to use the mail or a drop box can begin requesting ballots now and submitting them as early as Sept. 24.

So, the more you avoid delaying your vote, the less chance there will be that some postal complication interferes.

DeJoy's announcement does not necessarily eliminate any controversy over the cuts he plans for the Postal Service, but it does help refine the debate into a question of how the nation's postal service operates rather than one over whether its dismantling will disrupt a national election. While the former is still a discussion worth having, it is important from the point of view of democracy to be aware that each of us and our local officials can take steps to ensure that all our votes are secure - and count.