"It could become a disaster," says Kenneth Fredslund Petersen, transport spokesperson for Danmarksdemokraterne, voicing a growing political alarm over Denmark's mail delivery service. At the center of the storm is Dao, the company that took over nationwide letter distribution from PostNord at the turn of the year. Its brief tenure has been marked by persistent delays, and now a monumental test looms: distributing millions of election cards for the 2026 parliamentary vote.
A Rocky Start for Mail Delivery
Since assuming the contract, Dao's service has been plagued by slowdowns. The scale of the problem became clear in January alone, when the company received over 15,000 customer inquiries about letters that had failed to arrive on time. This operational turbulence has shaken confidence in a system businesses and citizens rely on for daily communications, invoices, and legal documents. For a country with a highly digitalized economy, reliable physical mail remains a critical backup and a legal necessity for many official processes.
The Looming 2026 Election Challenge
Every election year in Denmark requires the swift and accurate distribution of valgkort, or election cards, to every eligible voter. With 2026 designated as a valgår (election year), and the possibility of a snap parliamentary election being called on short notice, the pressure on Dao will be intense. The task involves sending out approximately four million of these crucial documents, which inform citizens of their polling place and are essential for voter turnout. Any significant delay could disenfranchise voters and disrupt the democratic process.
Political Doubts and Direct Questions
Politicians across the spectrum are expressing deep concern. Mads Olsen, transport spokesperson for the Socialist People's Party (SF), recently submitted a formal parliamentary question to Transport Minister Thomas Danielsen. "My concern is that Dao has just taken over the postal service, and there is clearly no control in the shop," Olsen stated. "And when you then get such a huge extra task, which these millions of election cards fundamentally are, then I can be worried that they cannot deliver them."
Kenneth Fredslund Petersen from Danmarksdemokraterne shares this apprehension. "Election cards must be delivered to all eligible citizens in Denmark. As things are right now, there can indeed be delays. Or will they ever arrive? They just need to get this sorted," he said. This bipartisan worry underscores the political sensitivity of the issue, linking operational performance to core democratic functions.
Dao's Counter: Training and Preparation
In response to the criticism, Dao's CEO, Hans Peter Nissen, asserts that the company is ready. "Dao will distribute the election cards, and we have been training for this since November, where we based on data from the municipal election got the opportunity to plan the distribution in detail," Nissen said. This preparation suggests a proactive approach, aiming to leverage past election data to model and streamline the logistics for the national-scale event. The company's stance is one of confidence, seeking to reassure the public and politicians alike.
The Ripple Effect on Everyday Mail
A significant secondary risk identified by politicians is the potential for the election card operation to worsen existing delays for ordinary mail. Mads Olsen pointed out, "I can also be worried that all other mail will be put in the back row, and therefore Mr. and Mrs. Jensen will have to wait up to a month to send their letters." Hans Peter Nissen acknowledged this risk explicitly. "Consequences for the rest of the distribution will be delays in delivery in those cases where it takes longer to distribute than we calculate," he admitted. This creates a potential double-bind for businesses: critical election logistics could inadvertently throttle commercial and personal correspondence.
Legislative Safeguards as a Last Resort
The legal framework provides a potential safety net. The current postal law, supported by the government and several parties, stipulates that the transport minister has the power to designate a specific supplier if the free market cannot handle a task—even if it ends up being more costly. This clause acts as an ultimate backstop, allowing the state to intervene should Dao's delivery system falter under the weight of the election card distribution. It places the responsibility for ensuring reliability squarely on the minister's shoulders.
The Road to 2026
The path to the 2026 election is now paved with operational scrutiny. Dao has a narrow window to rectify its early delivery issues and demonstrate that its training translates into flawless execution. Politicians will be watching closely, with the power to escalate concerns to the ministerial level. The fundamental question remains: Can a company struggling with daily mail reliably execute one of the most time-sensitive and nationally important distribution tasks? The answer will have implications far beyond the postal service, touching the integrity of Denmark's electoral process and the everyday rhythm of its business economy.