There are growing concerns among election officials and lawmakers that delays from the U.S. Postal Service might stop thousands of ballots from being counted in what is anticipated to be a fiercely contested presidential election.

In a letter sent last month to the postmaster general, state election officials expressed serious concerns about “exceptionally long delivery times,” ballots postponed due to payment issues, and voter mail being returned as undeliverable.

Lawmakers expressed frustration over delivery delays, linking the consolidation of processing centers to a significant decline in timely deliveries of first-class mail in cities such as Atlanta, Georgia; Richmond, Virginia; and Green Bay, Wisconsin.

“Voters should never have to worry about whether their ballot will be postmarked on time or if it will arrive at the election center in time to be counted,” stated Rep. David Joyce, R-Ohio.

During a House committee meeting on September 26, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy informed lawmakers that nearly all ballots—over 99%—are delivered within seven days. This is a slight increase from the goal of three to five days set for first-class mail. He mentioned that staff members take “extraordinary measures,” including isolating ballots from the regular mail flow to ensure timely deliveries.

“We make significant efforts to meet deadlines,” DeJoy stated.

Election officials, lawmakers, and postal authorities are urging voters to send in their ballots at least seven days before Election Day to guarantee they are received in time to be counted, even though more than a dozen states allow ballots to be mailed as late as Election Day and still count.

Here’s what we know regarding the concerns about the Postal Service:

‘Vote from Home’: The Rise of Mail-in Voting

Mail-in ballots gained significant attention following the surge in absentee voting during the 2020 election, prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The MIT reported that the number of mailed ballots more than doubled from 2016 to 2020, soaring from 28.8 million to 66.4 million. In the 2020 election, over 43% of voters opted for mail-in ballots, up from 24.5% in 2016, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

“People want to vote from the comfort of their homes, whether it’s their couch or kitchen table,” remarked Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, who is also the president of the National Association of Secretaries of State. “It’s more convenient for them and their families.”

Surveys indicated that about 60% of Democrats voted by mail in 2020, compared to just 32% of Republicans.

Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has been a critic of mail-in voting, while occasionally prompting his followers to use it themselves. He labeled the Postal Service as “badly managed” in a post on Truth Social dated September 15 and questioned its reliability for this year’s election.

‘A significant issue’: Election authorities report increasing mail-in ballots are undeliverable

Most states mandate that mail-in ballots must be received by Election Day. However, 14 states along with the District of Columbia permit a grace period ranging from one to 14 days, provided the ballots are postmarked by Election Day, as indicated by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors expressed their worries about slow mail services in a letter to Postmaster General DeJoy on September 11. Representatives from both associations have had discussions with DeJoy on two occasions.

“There are still some lingering concerns,” Simon mentioned following a meeting with DeJoy on October 1. “We require continued assurances that the Postal Service is operating effectively.”

Election officials reported an uptick in undeliverable mail sent to voters, which includes voter confirmation cards, information mailers, and actual ballots, even when there is no reason to believe that a voter has changed their address.

Senator Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., called for an investigation by the Postal Service’s inspector general in June after Fulton County, Georgia, revealed that 1,100 pieces of court-related mail including notices and orders never reached their intended recipients. There have been no updates on the investigation from the inspector general as of now.

Returning mail could prevent voters from receiving their ballots and might even lead to some being removed from registration lists.

“This issue is incredibly serious,” Simon stated.

‘Raising a red flag’: delayed ballots risk being discarded

According to the Postal Service’s inspector general, over a recent three-month period, only 85.6% of first-class mail was delivered within two days, falling short of the 93% goal set by the agency. If voters depend on their ballots to reach the election office quickly, millions could miss the deadline for their votes to be counted.

“That represents a large number of voters,” commented Hans von Spakovsky, a voting law expert at the conservative Heritage Foundation.

State election officials have expressed frustration over “unusually long delivery times.” Reports came from various states indicating that several ballots were received 10 days or more past their postmark dates during the primaries.

Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab reported that nearly 1,000 mail-in ballots, which accounted for 2% of the total for the August 6 primary, could not be counted due to arriving after the state’s three-day grace period or lacking a postmark altogether. This problem persists, with more ballots continuing to arrive without postmarks, contradicting the Postal Service’s stated policy to “postmark all ballots.”

“That’s why we’re raising our concerns now,” Schwab stated.

In March, only 36% of first-class mail in the Atlanta region was delivered on time, though this improved to 83% by June, according to Postal Service statistics.

DeJoy attributed mail delays to the consolidation of postal facilities aimed at improving efficiency, along with relocating thousands of employees to a new facility in Palmetto, Georgia.

“We will ensure the timely delivery of ballots in Georgia,” he assured.

Concerns have been raised by lawmakers regarding a 20-point drop in on-time deliveries in areas like Green Bay and Richmond this year due to experimental programs, which have resulted in these areas ranking second and fourth worst in the country for delivery times.

DeJoy likened the testing of new mail efficiency programs to NASA’s rocket launches.

“The first rockets that went to the moon experienced failures,” he remarked.

“Thanks for sabotaging Wisconsin,” responded Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis.

GOP pushes for a strict Election Day cutoff for mail-in ballots

The Republican National Committee has initiated legal actions to enforce that mail-in ballots must be completed correctly and counted only if they arrive by Election Day.

A lawsuit brought forward by the RNC in Mississippi aims to restrict the counting of mail-in ballots to those that reach their destination by Election Day, challenging existing state law which allows a five-day grace period for ballots postmarked by Election Day.

Democrats and state election officials are advocating for the maintenance of grace periods that allow some ballots to be counted even if they arrive after Election Day. They argue that military members and overseas voters face significant risks of not having their votes counted due to postal delays.

A U.S. District Court affirmed the state’s deadline in July, and Republicans have since lodged an appeal. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard discussions regarding the appeal on September 24. Legal analysts believe this case could escalate to the Supreme Court.

Officials Urge Mail Ballots to Be Sent at Least a Week Prior to Elections

In light of worries surrounding the postal service, election officials and lawmakers clarified their intent not to deter anyone from utilizing mail-in voting.

“I firmly believe that mail-in voting remains a reliable and secure option for the increasing number of Americans opting for this method,” stated Simon. “It’s crucial that we do not send the message that voting by mail is discouraged.”

Election and postal authorities recommended that voters should post their ballots at least a week before Election Day and reach out to local offices to verify receipt.

“As we approach Halloween, make sure to call your local election office to confirm that your ballot has been received,” advised Schwab.