A federal judge on Thursday approved an agreement between the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and civil rights groups that would implement measures to ensure that absentee ballots in Georgia are delivered on time for the state’s two runoff elections in the state. next month.
The parties submitted the settlement to the court on Wednesday night in an effort to “avoid the cost and burden of further litigation between now and Georgia’s run-off elections.”
The deal is the result of numerous ongoing lawsuits filed by groups such as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Vote Forward that were originally in response to the Trump administration’s postal service cuts.
“Each ballot must be counted, and this agreement with the USPS is a significant step towards ensuring that the postal voting process for the election of Georgia’s second round will ensure timely delivery of the ballots,” Sam Spital, Legal Litigation Director Defense Fund said in a statement. “The agreement provides for the prioritization of ballot delivery, the timely resolution of any delays in the delivery system and transparency in the USPS process to ensure that no voter is deprived of rights.”
The Justice Department, which is representing the Post Office in the cases, has appealed the court orders that overthrow the Postmaster General Louis DeJoy
The Louis DeJoyDeJoy calendar released by the Post Office is almost completely edited Post office workers report delays across the country during the transport of holidays The case in which insured mail bills would be counted MOREguidelines issued earlier this year to reduce delivery services.
DeJoy reported radical changes in personnel, equipment and other services in June and July, citing the need to cut costs amid the coronavirus pandemic. The move generated resistance from Democrats and critics who accused the postmaster, a choice of President Trump
Donald TrumpMcCarthy offers UC request to revisit foreign spending on Senator GOP omnibus over Trump forgives: “This is rotten to the end” Trump forgives Manafort, Stone and Charles Kushner in the last round MOREtrying to help the president win re-election.
The deal will require Georgia’s post office to regularly scan undelivered ballots until the January 5 election and continue to use fast delivery services for ballots sent by mail.
The plaintiffs agreed not to ask the federal district court in Washington, DC, for any additional orders in their cases until after the election.
Georgia’s two Senate contests will decide which party will control the upper house as president-elect Joe Biden
Joe BidenTrump administration advances bomb sale to Saudis Klobuchar: Trump ‘trying to burn this country on its way out’ NIGHT ENERGY: EPA refuses to tighten air quality standards for air pollution | Green groups sue Trump’s offer to open Alaska’s Tongass forest to extract MORE takes office.
The news of the deal comes at a time when the Post Office faces serious delays in sending mail during the holidays.