Pennsylvania one of several states that will file federal lawsuit over postal service changes

Pennsylvania will be one of several states filing lawsuits that will challenge nationwide operational changes at the U.S. Postal Service.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro and Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced two separate multistate coalitions on Tuesday that will file lawsuits.

According to a release from the attorney general's office, the lawsuits seek to halt unilateral changes at the Postal Service and ensure safe, secure vote-by-mail across the country.

Changes at the post office, including limiting staff overtime, “have impacted the prompt delivery of mail to Americans who rely on the Postal Service for everything from medical prescriptions to ballots,” the release stated.

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“We will be taking action to reinstate Postal Service standards that all Americans depend on, whether it’s for delivering their prescription drugs or for carrying their very right to vote,” Shapiro said. “Recent post office changes have been implemented recklessly, before checking the law, and we will use our authority to stop them and help ensure that every eligible ballot is counted.”

Pennsylvanians have been experiencing delays in receiving their mail as a result of the changes, often going days without delivery of important mail items, the release stated.

The Postal Service notified many states, including Pennsylvania, that it could not guarantee delivery of ballots in accordance with state laws and deadlines, according to the attorney general's office.

In response, Gov. Tom Wolf asked the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to extend the deadline to receive eligible ballots to Nov. 6.

The lawsuit seeks to immediately reverse the agency’s actions, and guarantee safeguards and standards for election mail, according to the release.

Washington and Pennsylvania are leading separate legal actions in the coming days. Pennsylvania will be joined by California, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts and North Carolina, among other states, in the suit.

Lawmakers worry USPS slowdown will impact absentee, mail-in voting in November

Cox Media Group