1. Please share as needed.
2. I want to stress: because we are still in a pandemic, states/local gov. are willing to consider emergency options they normally wouldn't.
I'm definitely not going to tell you to waste your time on something that doesn't make sense.
Also, a LOT of action points, so using ➡️
A. Legislation
➡️The House passed the #HeroesAct on 05/15 w/ $25 billion to USPS, including priority focus on PPE: m.npmhu.org/media/news/her…
➡️But the Senate left DC w/ failed negotiations + no voting. They will not be back until 09/08.
➡️Our action? Demand a vote.

➡️Call the *district offices* or DOs of your Senators.
➡️The full list of your Senators is here: senate.gov/general/contac…
➡️Click through on their names to go to their website, and find their district offices. You can also email or fax in a message.
➡️But the USPS's longer-term financial problems are because of a *2006 GOP law* which requires retirements be pre-funded.
➡️ @NALC_National wanted to cancel this in 2018: nalc.org/news/nalc-upda…
➡️You *know* USPS's financial challenges are because of pre-funding, because they're blaming/excusing DeJoy's changes due to structural issues.
➡️ Here's a report discussing pre-funding, if needed: nalc.org/news/nalc-upda…
➡️ You can remind electeds on both sides the House passed the bipartisan H.R.2382 in February, and there's decent support.
congress.gov/bill/116th-con…
✔️ USPS are frontline workers who deserve hazard pay,
✔️ USPS anticipated a $13 billion revenue loss in April due to COVID. cnn.com/2020/04/10/pol…
✔️ USPS workers need PPE.
washingtonpost.com/business/2020/…
✔️ We're likely going to need the USPS to help deliver a vaccine for COVID,
✔️ Small businesses depend on USPS to function (e.g. Etsy stores)
✔️ Obviously, vote by mail.
There are multiple investigations/hearings in Congress right now over DeJoy's actions, including:
➡️ @SenGaryPeters requesting public input re: #USPS slowdowns as Ranking Member of Homeland Security/ Governmental Affairs:
peters.senate.gov/postal
oversight.house.gov/sites/democrat…
➡️@ewarren + 7 other Dems have asked @OIGUSPS to investigate, which they're following up on: cnn.com/2020/08/14/pol…
E.g. @Sen_JoeManchin: wdtv.com/2020/08/14/man…
✔️ Encourage everyone experiencing mail slowdowns to fill out the Peters form.
✔️ Tell electeds we support ALL of these hearings and investigations. They need to continue + be public.
✔️ Tell electeds they ALL need to tour local USPS facilities like Manchin.
More of an indirect list of actions, but every candidate running for federal office right now should be able to:
✔️Explain why USPS has been losing $ (pre-funding!)
✔️What actions they've taken to save USPS/help voting (for incumbents)
This is important, because the challenges w/ USPS are not short-term. We need officials who get the longer term battle.
➡️ What we can do: support USPS-savvy electeds, especially Senators.
➡️We need a Dem Senate majority, to support a Dem President's nominees - just like all other critical nominees.
➡️ Pick a critical race to adopt: vox.com/2020/5/18/2124…
A graduate school classmate wrote her final paper on how frustrating it was for her to see USPS pushed aside as an issue year after year, because it hasn't been urgent... until now.
Support electeds who prioritize)
Here's the link to the report from the Congressional Research Service covering the negative impacts of pre-funding:
fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R…
State level actions need to be a big focus when it comes to the impact of #USPS and voting in November.
Why, you ask? Because our system of voting is decentralized and it's state-by-state.
The actions here are more direct & immediate action for each of us.
E.g. Newsom did this in California:
sfchronicle.com/politics/artic…
➡️ You can find your SOS/check or update your registration here: (the dropdown lets you select your state): nass.org/can-I-vote/vot…
➡️ If you haven't registered, NOW is the time to do it.
➡️ If your state has early voting, will they support expanding further?
E.g. This happened today. courier-journal.com/story/news/pol…
Is this something you can ask of Gov./SoS?
➡️ Will they allocate emergency funding to help county registrars with expanded voting options (e.g. more drop boxes)?
This is tough, because COVID deficits being experienced at all levels of gov. BUT still worth asking.
➡️When will your ballot be mailed (if being mailed?) How long does it usually take to get there?
➡️If it doesn't arrive, do you know what to do?
➡️ Can you vote early? What's the earliest you can vote?
➡️ If you're mailing it back in, can you do it right away after receiving your ballot?
It's generally accepted people w/ voting plans will vote. Ask friends/family these questions too.
➡️ Do you know what kind of forms of ID you might need to vote in person? The SoS brings you directly to your state's website.
Can you start preparing early to make sure you have everything you need? nass.org/can-i-vote/val…
fvap.gov
There's a severe shortage of poll workers right now, because of COVID, and older poll workers pulling out.
cnn.com/2020/08/13/pol…
Consider finding your state here, and follow the instructions on your individual state pages
nass.org/can-i-vote/bec…
Your county registrar of voters is the local body putting on elections in your area.
➡️ First things first? Know the contact for your registrar: usvotefoundation.org/vote/eoddomest…
Because they + their team will be overseeing issues on Election Day. Know who to call.
➡️ Figure out when your ballot (if by mail)
➡️ Are there local drop-off locations?
➡️ Or what's your local vote center/polling location?
➡️ Reach out if you want to volunteer to be a poll worker (check requirements; what they need, etc.)
➡️ (Jointly, with your County Board): Reach out and ask if they have plans to expand vote collection given USPS.
✔️ Additional polling locations?
✔️ Additional drop-off locations/boxes/collection points?
E.g. my old office building used to have a regular box in the lobby, watched over by building security. Is this something that can be replicated?
✔️Can they work with their partners at other levels of government to get funding to carry out points, if needed?
But because of COVID, things are shifting, so it doesn't hurt to *ask* - e.g. what we saw in Kentucky today. Asking encourages staff to realize there's an issue, and encourages them to solve it.
I think it's important for all us to remember it can't be easy to work for USPS right now. Can you support your local mail carrier/postal staff/see what they need?
✔️Can you help see what your specific branch might need - e.g. do they need PPE? Can you make/send cloth masks?
Because if you remember: #HeroesAct provided urgent PPE $, but it *hasn't passed*.
And they're out in a pandemic. How can we make it easier on them? It doesn't hurt to ask.
➡️State Actions (part two)⬅️
➡️Ask your state AG to investigate what’s going on with USPS slowdowns/mailbox removals. You can find your AGs here: naag.org/naag/attorneys…
They can also push for additional expansion for access, they can push federal delegations to get an answer - since ideally, they should be talking.