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Mail ballots thrown out for lateness
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Mail ballots are being thrown out for lateness at higher rates in 12 states. The USPS's delivery capability could decide the November elections.
Background
The U.S. Postal Service has implemented new rules for mail-in ballots, requiring specific envelope formatting and an electronic identification system. States have struggled to comply, leading to delays and an increase in ballots arriving after deadlines. Election officials worry that the USPS is ill-equipped to handle the volume for the upcoming midterms.
How it unfolded
- Aug 25, 2026A federal judge froze the Postal Service's authority to reject ballots in states that don't comply with new rules, just as states are about to send ballots.
- Aug 27, 2026Massachusetts' top election official says it's too late to mail in ballots for the primary, urging voters to use drop boxes.
- Aug 31, 2026Reports show that in Wisconsin, late ballots accounted for 78% of tossed ballots in the spring primary, up from 47% in 2023. In Michigan, over 10,000 ballots were rejected for lateness, nearly double the 2024 number.
Who’s saying what
- Officials
- Election officials worry that the USPS is ill-equipped to deliver ballots in the fall midterms.
- Expert
- Justin Levitt says it's 'exceptionally likely' that ballots will go out too late for USPS to deliver them properly.