Missing mail, including vote-by-mail ballots, reported across Boston

Missing mail: If you’re a resident of Boston who hasn’t been receiving your mail on time, you’re not alone. In the last two weeks, residents in Dorchester, Mattapan, Brighton, Roxbury and Mission Hill have filed reports of late and undelivered mail from the U.S. Postal Service, including a few missing vote-by-mail ballots. The delays have prompted three Boston city councilors to call for an emergency hearing on the matter. “Knowing where we are in election season, not having a reliable postal system at this specific juncture is critically important,” said Sharon Durkan, district counselor for Mission Hill, who’s a part of the group requesting the hearing.

• In the 2024 Massachusetts state primary, more than 60% of voters cast their ballot by mail. “Unreliable post office service threatens the very foundations of our democracy,” Durkan told WBUR’s Cici Yongshi Yu. Though some people may be able to get to the polls in-person, some cannot due to disability or other vulnerabilities. “It’s particularly important they have access to their fundamental right to participate in democracy,” Durkan said.
• What’s next: The hearing has not yet been scheduled, according to Durkan. “This is a tricky one… because the Postal Service is out of the city’s jurisdiction,” she said. In the meantime, she’s urging constituents to reach out to their councilors if more mail is lost.
• Zoom out: U.S. Postal Service delays are a nationwide problem, with some states suggesting those who do vote-by-mail turn in their ballots early to avoid missing the count.