Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein is joining 32 local and tribal governments opposing recent changes at the U.S. Postal Service.
Columbus has signed on to an amicus brief arguing new procedures at USPS will interfere with the November election. It says some jurisdictions could have to spend more money to boost voting hours, add polling sites and potentially more ballot drop boxes.
U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy began making changes starting in July that have delayed mail deliveries. Klein says the changes have disproportionately affected elderly and minority communities who rely on mail service for life-saving prescriptions, as WOSU previously reported.
In an emailed statement, Klein also says the changes will create greater hurdles for people who want to exercise their right to vote by mail.
“The changes deployed to the USPS by the Trump Administration are decaying citizens' right to vote—a constitutional right that we must protect,” Klein wrote. “Being able to safely and securely vote by mail is permitted in Ohio and is critical more than ever during this global pandemic.”
In addition to Columbus, the amicus brief is signed by the cities of Cincinnati and Dayton, along with Atlanta, Austin, Flint, Boston, Houston, Chicago, Pittsburgh and more.
