⁍ Democrats in Congress said reported delays in mail deliveries in some U.S. cites could jeopardize delivery of ballots ahead of next week’s presidential election.

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⁍ U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan in Washington late Tuesday ordered the U.S. Postal Service to release daily reports on mail deliveries.

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⁍ He directed USPS distribute guidance to workers by Thursday of the need to ensure ‘completed ballots reach the appropriate election official by the state’s designated deadline

– With less than a week to go until Election Day, the US Postal Service has been ordered by a federal judge to provide daily reports on mail deliveries, Reuters reports. US District Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered the USPS to participate in daily court conferences and take other steps to ensure timely delivery of ballots. He also ordered USPS to distribute guidance to workers by Thursday on the need to ensure “completed ballots reach the appropriate election official by the state’s designated deadline.” House Oversight and Reform Committee chair Carolyn Maloney says “delays are now jeopardizing the delivery of election mail, so I encourage all Americans who have not yet voted to vote in person or use designated election drop boxes.” A USPS spokesman says the USPS is complying with the judge’s order. “We take all of our legal obligations very seriously,” he says. Last week, USPS told Sullivan it returned mail processing machines to service since August and approved thousands of daily extra or late delivery trips. Lawmakers heavily criticized Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a Trump donor who took over in June, for cost-cutting organizational changes adopted in July including eliminating extra deliveries. A USPS inspector general audit report released last week said those changes were a factor in delayed deliveries. DeJoy suspended changes in August. Four US judges, including Sullivan, have issued injunctions barring USPS from making service reductions. USPS said it has delivered more than 100 million blank or completed ballots since early September.