USPS Mail Service Reductions Lead to Soaring Ballot Rejections in Rural Counties

Increased Ballot Rejections in Rural Areas

A ProPublica analysis revealed a significant increase in rejected mail-in ballots in rural counties during this year's primary elections. The rate of ballots rejected for arriving late doubled or tripled in areas where the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) implemented cost-cutting measures, compared to the 2022 primary. This trend was not observed in other regions.

Impact of USPS Cost-Cutting Measures

The increase in late ballots is attributed to changes made by the USPS over the past three years. Facing declining mail volume and ballooning deficits, the Postal Service consolidated first-class mail processing at larger regional plants, moving away from smaller local hubs. Additionally, the agency reduced mail pickup frequency from twice daily to once at many post offices located 50 miles or more from these processing plants.

Delayed Delivery and Postmarking

These operational changes often added at least a day to mail delivery times. Crucially for ballots, the changes also pushed back the postmarking process, which now occurs only after mail reaches the regional processing centers. This delay directly contributed to ballots arriving past deadlines in affected rural areas, as evidenced by data from states like Washington.

Case Study: Washington State

In eastern Washington, election officials in 11 predominantly rural counties reported nearly 2,000 late ballots in this year's primary, a substantial increase from approximately 600 in the 2022 midterm primary. For example, in Stevens County, over 500 ballots were found in the post office three days after the primary, rendering them invalid. While USPS leaders state special procedures are in place for the November 3 election to prevent similar delays, experts warn that errors remain probable.