The United State Postal Services is in the middle of a politiicized funding fight that Democrats increasingly worry could lead to disenfranchisement for voters who cast absentee and mail-in ballots this November. 

A highly publicizied slow down in mail service began earlier this year, said Bill Cook, the president of the National Association of Letter Carriers's northeastern New York branch.  

What You Need To Know

  • The USPS is in the midst of a funding fight Democrats worry could lead to absentee ballots not being counted

  • Top Democrats in New York are pushing for $25 billion in funding for the USPS

  • Letter carriers say the best hope for voters is to get their absentee ballot in as soon as possible

  • One lawmaker has proposed secure drop boxes for voting

"It's discouraging everyday for the carriers to come in and know that they are able to deliver the mail on time and know they are not able to deliver all of the mail on time," Cook said. "It's just like other essential services. While we do the best we can, we can only work with the people that show up for work." 

On one end of the fight: Democrats who are concerned that without $25 billion in funding for the postal service absentee ballots and other important mail like medicine could go undelivered or arrive too late. 

President Donald Trump has cast doubt on the security of mail-in ballots, though fraud is rare, and his administration has said the postal service is a money loser that is need of reform. Trump on Monday at the White House said he wanted to "speed up" mail service.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in a rare joint appearance on Monday in Troy at a post office called for hearings on the issue. Post Master General Louis DeJoy later agreed to appear before lawmakers to answer questions.

"This year there will be more mail voting because of COVID," Schumer said. "We need the mail to get there on time."

But there are other options. State Sen. Brad Hoylman has proposed secure drop boxes for voters to cast their ballots. 

"Let's do a runaround the U.S. Postal Service since they're not be funded, the president doesn't want to fund them and voters need this option," Hoylmand said. 

But Onondaga County elections commissioner Dustin Czarny says there's another solution: If you're voting by absentee, vote as early as possible. 

"If you're ready to vote and not waiting until the last minute, you should submit that ballot," Czarny said. 

Cook, the letter carriers union president, agrees: The sooner a ballot is in the mail, the better chance it will get counted. 

"We will get the ballot to where it has to go," he said. "What I will advise people is don't wait until the last minute. Your ballot in New York state has to be postmakred on Election Day. If you are waiting until Election Day, you're pushing the limit of the post office's ability to deliver for you."