Postal Service doesn’t say to never mail cash but other options are preferable

Health officials among others are advocating for mailing in ballots as the coronavirus continues to spread, but those opposed to the practice argue it’s not secure. 

"The Post Office advises never send cash by mail," one recent Facebook post says. "It’s not secure. Vote by mail?"

This post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.) 

We reached out to the Postal Service about the claim. 

Spokesperson David Partenheimer said: "It is advisable to send money via a personal or certified check or money order, as these are traceable and a stop payment can be put on a check that doesn’t arrive at its destination." 

The Postal Service doesn’t prohibit sending cash in the mail, he said, and people can insure the money sent through the mail: up to $15 for cash unless it’s registered mail, which requires a signature upon delivery. Cash sent via registered mail can be insured up to $50,000.

"If you are sending a significant amount of cash, you need to verify with your local Post Office what is considered valid proof of value before mailing the item," Partenheimer said. "You should also verify that it is packaged securely enough to protect a high value item from being harmed during regular mail processing."

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As for whether the mail is a secure means of casting your ballot, Partenheimer said: "The U.S. Mail remains a secure, efficient and effective means for citizens to participate in the electoral process, and the Postal Service is proud to serve as a critical component of our nation’s democratic process." 

"All U.S. Mail is protected by more than 200 federal laws enforced by the United States Postal Inspection Service, one of the nation’s oldest law enforcement agencies," Partenheimer said. 

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Our ruling

The Facebook post says that the Postal Service says to never send cash by mail because it’s not secure. It suggests that means voting by mail isn’t secure.

The Postal Service recommends sending money using a check or money order, but it doesn’t advise customers to never send cash in the mail, and the agency offers insurance coverage for cash mailings. 

The Postal Service also says that voting by mail is a secure way to vote. 

We rate this Facebook post Mostly False.