APWU releases ad to dispel mail-in voting safety concerns
WILMINGTON (WWAY) — The American Postal Workers Union is taking its message about voting by mail to the airwaves in North Carolina with a new 30-second TV ad leading up to the November midterm elections.
The commercial features voters explaining why they choose to vote by mail, ending with the message “Vote by mail. Keep it, protect it, expand it.”
The union also released results from a national poll conducted by Democratic and Republican pollsters, measuring voter attitudes toward vote-by-mail.
Postal workers also highlighted their role in making sure election mail and ballots are delivered on time.
Daniels Matthew, president of the North Carolina APWU and a sales and service clerk at the Monkey Junction post office in Wilmington, says the message is meant to address voter fears and concerns.
“The ad is to dispel the fear mongering,” said Matthews. “We do not want people to be afraid to use mail in voting. It’s trusted, it’s valued, it’s generational.”
Matthews says the poll found 1/3 of Americans regularly rely on voting by mail, and says postal workers have steps in place to make sure those ballots are properly handled.
In 2024, there were 65 million mail-in ballots.
99.88% of them were delivered in 7 days.
97% or more were delivered within 3 days.
“The APWU has monitors that we’re putting in multiple offices, in each tour, in each shift, to make sure the ballots are handled properly,” said Matthews. “To make sure they are taken, processed, and moved.”
Postal officials say voters who choose to mail their ballots should pay close attention to their state’s deadlines and requirements for returning them.
