A voter fills out their ballot at Willow Elementary School in Lansing on Nov. 3, 2020. This site houses two precincts and had people trickling in for both precincts.
The United States Postal Service, or USPS, was ordered by a U.S. district court judge to speed up the delivery of ballots in two areas of Michigan, according to a press release by Attorney General Dana Nessel.
The regions include the Detroit District and the Lakeland District. Nessel's announcement explains Detroit currently has the worst on-time delivery rate in the nation.
The slowdown of mail delivery in Michigan has negatively impacted the timely delivery of absentee ballots, Nessel said in the announcement.
In August, Nessel joined a coalition of 13 other states in a lawsuit against USPS after delivery rates were significantly decreased, according to the statement.
“This has been a serious impediment to voters who have made the effort to request, receive, vote and return their absentee ballots," Nessel said in the statement. "The Court’s order is an important step in righting this wrong, but it is only a temporary fix to an ongoing problem.”
In terms of Detroit's facilities, the order requires USPS to identify incoming ballots and use extraordinary measures, such as Priority Mail Express, to deliver them by 8 p.m.
Additionally, Nessel urged voters to check Michigan.gov/vote to confirm absentee ballots have been received.
If the ballot has not been delivered, voters should go to their clerk's office and cancel their absentee ballot before 8 p.m. By cancelling the absentee ballot, a new, in-person ballot may be provided.
AG Communications Director Kelly Rossman-McKinney could not be reached for comment.
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