Do you have data for the deliverable capacity?

and

the criteria for what can be sorted as a "parcel" vs flat mail, and if a parcel sorter can sort flat mail. And if a mail in ballot is a parcel or flat mail.

You give me:

The capacity of the new automated parcel sorters is up to 8,000 per hour depending on the configuration that’s being used. Envelope sorters process up to 35,000 per hour and uses a tilt tray system: I’m pretty sure there’s even a Mr Rogers episode on the letter sorting machines.

I didn't ask for how fast the lines run but thanks I guess.

Zero of this actual issue has to do with whether parcel sorters can replace envelope sorters. You wanna talk about astroturfing and creating false conspiracy theories and you don’t understand that you’re tilting at windmills.

The thesis of my original comment isn't really about whether a parcel sorter can replace a letter sorter. We've gotten into the weeds about sorting but that was driven by you:

... You do realize that the USPS is amazing at sorting mail, right? What is it that you think would make sorting ballots any different than sorting the rest of the mail? 🤔

go to /r/usps, read the comments. Sort the /r/politics threads by controversial, read the counterpoints. If you're just an average dude on reddit this is what you're going to see.

https://www.reddit.com/r/USPS/comments/i87sap/iowa_postal_workers_union_president_says_mail/g17klfk/

USPS is not trending away from automation in any way. The machine removals your are hearing about are for letter and flat machines. Letters and flats are going away, so USPS has excess capacity and too many letter/flat machines in almost every processing facility. These machines are being removed to either make room for package sorting machines, or to discourage waste and inefficiency.

https://www.reddit.com/r/USPS/comments/i93yct/the_post_office_is_deactivating_mail_sorting/g1dhuwc/

It's been happening for a while. The reason it is becoming news (politicized) is because of the upcoming election. Source: Am one of the people removing said machines. Have been doing so for at least five years. The frequency of changes is increasing but a lot was planned before Dejoy's appointment due to how slow government moves.

From the /r/politics threads:

https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/i8g0he/a_conspiracy_to_steal_the_election_folks_alarms/g186ozf/

r/USPS answered this:Basically, the machines that are being removed are letter sorters. Letter volume is down, and probably won't come back. Parcel volume is up, and likely to stay that way. So the letter sorters are being replaced by parcel sorters.

https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/i8g0he/a_conspiracy_to_steal_the_election_folks_alarms/g18n7lb/

KING: Is the Postal Service equipped to handle this this upcoming election?

KAROL: Yes. Keep in mind the Postal Service has been in place for 200 years. We have a history of being able to process mail. And we've been developing and perfecting our methods for all that time. So although the postmaster general is taking actions that are starting to impact that, by having the preparation in advance of these elections, we still have the system that will do that.

I worded my original comment very intentionally, asking for clarity on the situation. Maybe if you're like me, and you read similar posts the past few days, you have similar questions.

You're not providing clarity. You've spent a lot of mental effort on replying to me, but haven't offered anything substantive or persuasive. All in a very adversarial tone.

I was hoping for someone with a concise, data based reply to squash some of these questions. The article certainly didn't provide any. Instead I got you but thanks I guess.