Press Releases
Trump-Appointed USPS Board Chair Has a Record of Voter Suppression Efforts
Watchdog Demands USPS Board of Governors Chairman Robert “Mike” Duncan Step Down from His Post
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, government watchdog Accountable.US sent a letter to United States Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors Chairman Robert “Mike” Duncan calling on him to step down because of his “extensive history of involvement in voter disenfranchisement efforts.”
In his letter (available here) to Duncan, Accountable.US President Kyle Herrig wrote:
“As we continue to weather the COVID-19 public health crisis and infection risk remains high, experts expect to see more requests to vote by mail in many states than during any previous election cycle. It is therefore more crucial than ever that USPS leaders are committed to protecting voters’ — all voters’ — ability to cast mail-in ballots easily, efficiently, and successfully. Your extensive history of involvement in voter disenfranchisement efforts prove that you are not fit to fulfill that grave responsibility.”
During Duncan’s tenure as general counsel of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and as a member of the Kentucky Republican Party’s executive committee in 2004, numerous state parties — including Kentucky’s — were accused of coordinated voter suppression efforts via the banned practice of voter caging in an attempt to sway the 2004 election.
In Kentucky, the tactics primarily targeted voters in majority-minority communities. Duncan’s role in the potential voter suppression tactic deployed by Kentucky’s Republican Party is particularly suspect given his positions in both the state party and the RNC, as internal emails suggest the groups were in close coordination to carry out these efforts.
Duncan also served as chairman of the Republican National Committee in 2008 when it sued to overturn a court-ordered ban on its use of voter caging to suppress voter participation that had been in place since 1982.
In addition to his oversight of potential voter suppression efforts, Duncan additionally served on Kentucky’s Republican Party Executive Committee and Central Committee when the party distributed bigoted voter outreach materials, including mailers targeting Muslims and ads making homophobic attacks.
###