USPS Mail-In Ballot Changes: Risks and Measures

Mailing in your ballot close to Election Day involves risks. A late postmark could result in your vote being dismissed. This risk emerged due to changes in the mailing system that started last year.

Some election officials now urge you to return your ballots at local election offices or use available drop boxes. This push comes amid decreasing trust in the Postal Service’s ability to deliver ballots on time. Furthermore, previous attempts by President Trump to limit mail voting during the midterm elections were blocked by the Supreme Court.

The Impact of Late Postmarks

Election officials rely on the envelope’s postmark date to verify if a ballot was mailed by Election Day. Unfortunately, the USPS has changed its processing procedures, increasing postmarking delays. To counter this, USPS plans to implement special postmarking procedures before next month’s election as part of its “extraordinary measures” policy.

USPS advises mailing ballots at least a week before state deadlines. In states with a grace period for late-arriving mail ballots, voters should visit a post office to request a manual postmark. These efforts aim to ensure ballots are marked on the mailing day.

Causes of Late Postmarks

Changes in April 2025 led to reduced mail pickups and processing alterations at certain post offices, particularly in rural areas. Known as “Regional Transportation Optimization,” this effort is part of a 10-year USPS plan to stabilize finances. As a result, envelopes might not be automatically dated the day they are collected.

To address this issue, USPS’s extraordinary measures include instructing post offices affected by RTO to manually postmark ballots on the day of collection starting October 26. This procedure wasn’t in place during this year’s primaries, which saw higher ballot rejection rates.

Elena Patel from the Brookings Institution recognizes USPS’s steps to tackle late postmarks but warns of potential execution risks, especially in understaffed areas. Increasingly, voters encounter these financial-driven realities in a vast postal network.

Other Measures by USPS

USPS plans further measures to facilitate mail-in ballots. Starting October 24, post offices may extend their hours by 30 minutes and create lines or drive-through lanes for manual postmark requests. Additionally, they plan to expedite ballot delivery from October 26.

Despite not implementing measures 15 days before Election Day like in previous years, USPS remains confident in delivering election mail, drawing from over 150 years of experience.

Still, some voters face challenges navigating mailing systems. Michelle Sparck from Get Out the Native Vote in Alaska highlights postmarking delays that discourage absentee voters in Native villages.

Sparck advises voters to act early and not wait until Election Day. If there’s early voting available, she recommends dropping off ballots to ensure they are part of the chain of custody.