‘Raising Concerns’: Election Officials Caution that Postal Delays May Render Ballots Invalid
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy assures that employees are making ‘extraordinary efforts’ to deliver ballots promptly, yet officials express concern that delays might affect vote validity.
Election officials and legislators are expressing concern that delays from the U.S. Postal Service could hinder the counting of thousands of ballots during this potentially tight presidential election.
State election officials voiced their worries in a letter addressed to the postmaster general last month about “unusually long delivery times,” ballots being held up due to billing problems, and voter mail being returned as undeliverable.
Members of Congress are frustrated with the delivery delays, stating that the reduction of processing centers has significantly decreased on-time delivery rates for first-class mail in cities like Atlanta, Richmond, Virginia, and Green Bay, Wisconsin.
“Voters should never have to concern themselves if their ballot will be postmarked on time or if it will arrive at their election center in time to be counted,” remarked Rep. David Joyce, R-Ohio.
During a House hearing on September 26, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy informed lawmakers that nearly all ballots—over 99%—are delivered within seven days, which is a few days longer than the agency’s target of three to five days for first-class mail. He mentioned that staff members make “extraordinary efforts,” such as prioritizing ballots out of the general mail flow for special treatment to ensure timely delivery.
“We undertake heroic efforts to meet our deadlines,” DeJoy stated.
Election officials, legislators, and postal representatives are advising voters to send in their ballots at least seven days before Election Day to guarantee their counting, even though there are over a dozen states that allow ballots to be mailed on Election Day and still be considered valid.
Here’s what we know regarding concerns with the Postal Service:
‘Voting from Home’: The Rise of Mail-in Voting
The focus has shifted to mailed ballots largely due to a substantial increase in absentee voting seen during the 2020 election amid the coronavirus pandemic. The number of mailed ballots skyrocketed from 28.8 million in 2016 to 66.4 million in 2020, as documented by a report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 2020, more than 43% of voters opted to mail their ballots, a noticeable rise from 24.5% in 2016, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
“Voters want the convenience of casting their ballots from the comfort of their couches or kitchen tables,” stated Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, who also serves as the president of the National Association of Secretaries of State. “It’s become more manageable for them, their families, and their lifestyles.”
Surveys reveal that approximately 60% of Democrats voted by mail in 2020, contrasted with 32% of Republicans.
Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has consistently criticized mail-in voting, though he has occasionally encouraged his followers to utilize it. He referred to the Postal Service as “a poorly run mess” in a post on Truth Social dated September 15, expressing doubts about its reliability for the upcoming election.
‘A significant issue’: Election officials report rising rates of undeliverable mail-in ballots
While most states expect mailed ballots to be received by Election Day, 14 states and the District of Columbia offer a grace period extending from one to fourteen days, provided the ballots are postmarked by Election Day, as per the National Conference of State Legislatures.
On September 11, the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors expressed their worries over slow mail service in a letter to Postmaster General DeJoy. Members of these organizations have convened with DeJoy on two occasions.
“There are still some lingering concerns,” Simon stated after a meeting with DeJoy on October 1. “We need ongoing assurances that the Postal Service is committed to performing effectively.”
Officials reported an increase in the number of informational mailers, voter confirmation cards, and ballots being returned as undeliverable, even for voters who have not moved.
In June, after Fulton County, Georgia, identified 1,100 pieces of court-related mail—such as notice of hearings and court orders—that failed to reach their intended recipients, Senator Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., requested the Postal Service’s inspector general to launch an investigation. So far, there have been no results publicly announced from the inspector general.
When mail is returned to sender, voters might miss their ballots or risk being removed from the voter rolls.
“This problem is extremely serious,” remarked Simon.
‘Raising the alarm’: Late ballots risk being thrown out
Across the country, the Postal Service managed to deliver only 85.6% of first-class mail within two days in a recent three-month interval, falling short of its target of 93%. If voters depend on ballots reaching election offices as quickly, millions may find their votes arrive too late to be counted.
“This impacts a huge number of voters,” noted Hans von Spakovsky, an election law specialist at the conservative Heritage Foundation.
State election officials reported “exceptionally long mail delivery times,” as many states documented the arrival of numerous ballots during the primaries that were delivered ten or more days after their posted dates.
Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab indicated that around 1,000 mailed ballots—accounting for 2% of the total in the state’s August 6 primary—were disqualified because they arrived after the state’s three-day grace period, or lacked postmarks. More ballots continue to arrive late, and the absence of postmarks contradicts the agency’s stated policy on its website, which affirms that all ballots should be postmarked.
“This is why we are raising concerns now,” Schwab explained.
In March, only 36% of first-class mail in the Atlanta area was delivered on time, though this improved to 83% by June, according to Postal Service data.
DeJoy attributed the delays to the consolidation of postal facilities for efficiency, which involved transferring thousands of workers to a single new location in Palmetto, Georgia.
“We are fully capable of ensuring Georgia’s ballots will be delivered successfully,” he stated.
Lawmakers criticized the drop in on-time deliveries in Green Bay and Richmond, which decreased by 20 percentage points this year during experimental programs, landing them among the lowest in the nation for timely mail delivery.
DeJoy compared these mail delivery initiatives to early NASA rocket tests.
“The initial rockets sent to the moon faced many failures,” he remarked.
“Thanks for the failures in Wisconsin,” retorted Representative Mark Pocan, D-Wis.
Republicans push for a stricter deadline for mailed ballots
The Republican National Committee has initiated lawsuits to ensure that mailed ballots are properly completed and only counted if they arrive by Election Day.
One specific federal lawsuit by the RNC in Mississippi seeks to enforce that only mailed ballots received by Election Day should be counted, contrary to the current state law which allows a five-day grace period for ballots postmarked by Election Day.
Democrats and state election officials are working to retain grace periods for mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, as members of the military and overseas voters are particularly susceptible to having their votes disregarded due to postal delays.
A U.S. District Court upheld the state’s deadline in July, and Republicans have since appealed. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held discussions on September 24, with legal experts suggesting the matter could advance to the Supreme Court.
Recommendations for mailing ballots a week in advance
Despite the challenges faced by the postal service, election officials and lawmakers encourage voters to continue using mail-in ballots.
“I firmly believe that voting by mail remains a secure and feasible option for the increasing number of Americans choosing this method,” Simon stated. “I want to ensure no one feels discouraged from voting by mail.”
Officials recommend sending out mail-in ballots at least a week before Election Day and contacting local election offices to verify receipt.
“As Halloween approaches, be sure to call your local election office to confirm they got your ballot,” Schwab advised.
