In a significant move amidst a politically charged environment, the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), representing 200,000 members, has launched a national television advertising campaign promoting voting by mail. The campaign emerges in response to growing skepticism about mail-in ballots, especially following comments made by former President Donald Trump and others questioning the integrity of mail voting.
The 30-second advertisement showcases a diverse group of voters, including a farmer and a flight attendant, each sharing their reasons for choosing to cast their ballots by mail. This campaign will first debut in Ohio, a state with historical significance as the location where Union Army soldiers voted by mail during the Civil War in 1864, before expanding to additional states.
The ad concludes with a powerful message: “Vote by mail — keep it, protect it, expand it.” This initiative follows closely on the heels of an executive order signed by Trump, which aims to create a national database of verified eligible voters and restrict postal workers from sending absentee ballots to individuals not listed on each state’s approved voter registry.
The executive order has been met with immediate backlash, leading to lawsuits and opposition from various postal worker unions. The National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association has expressed concerns that the USPS is not equipped to determine voter eligibility, warning that such actions could politicize a highly trusted institution and undermine public confidence in both the postal service and the electoral process.
Jonathan Smith, the president of the APWU, clarified that the ad campaign was in development prior to Trump’s executive order and was not a reaction to it. He emphasized the union’s goal of encouraging continued mail voting while also voicing apprehensions about the implications of requiring postal workers to verify voter eligibility.
“It is our position that it is not the job of postal workers to verify voter eligibility,” Smith stated. “Our responsibility is to ensure that mail is delivered efficiently and reliably.” He further stated, “We do not want to be politicized,” highlighting the importance of maintaining the integrity and trustworthiness of the postal service.
Trump’s executive order has already faced legal challenges from various groups, including Democratic lawmakers in Washington, who assert that the Constitution delegates the authority to set election rules to states and Congress, rather than the president.
Despite his own previous use of mail voting, Trump has publicly criticized the method, alleging it leads to widespread fraud while advocating for legislation to restrict its use. Historically, mail voting has been a reliable and increasingly popular option for voters across the political spectrum, but Trump’s rhetoric has shifted perceptions, particularly among Republican voters.
A 2025 report from the Brookings Institution found that instances of fraud in mail voting are exceedingly rare, occurring in roughly four cases out of every 10 million ballots cast. This statistic reinforces the argument for the safety and efficacy of mail-in voting.
The APWU’s television advertisement serves as a direct outreach to voters, emphasizing the benefits of mail voting. “Our message is to America: Vote by mail is efficient, it’s safe, and it’s successful. Period,” Smith affirmed. “This is about educating the American people that they can vote by mail and have confidence that their voices will be heard and their votes will be counted.”
