USPS is changing its postmark definition. Here’s what it means for your ballot
BY ASHLEY GATZ AND SHANNON RYAN WASHINGTON, D.C.
PUBLISHED 5:11 PM ET JAN. 23, 2026
The U.S. Postal Service is warning Americans voting by mail to send in their ballots early.
On Dec. 24, the Postal Service quietly clarified its postmarking policy, explaining that mail is postmarked on the day it is processed by the Postal Service, not when it’s dropped off at a post office. (I thought Trump banned mail in ballots except for extreme circumstance?)
What You Need To Know
The U.S. Postal Service is changing its definition of a postmark to clarify that mail is postmarked the day it is processed, not when it’s dropped off in a mailbox, which could affect mail-in ballots
The definition change means mail may be postmarked days after it is dropped off
Fourteen states accept ballots if they’re postmarked on or before election day, so the USPS is urging voters to send in ballots early so they are postmarked in time to be counted
The Supreme Court is also considering a case that could change how mail-in ballots are accepted
The change most directly impacts the timeline for voters in several states that use postmarks as a metric for when mail-in ballots can be accepted. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 14 states and the District of Columbia accept domestic mail-in ballots after election day if they were postmarked on or before election day.
As a result, ballots dropped off on election day or even a day or two prior may not be counted. A large percentage of voters wait until the last minute to cast their mail-in ballots.
“If the voters kind of maintain their standard behavior of waiting and mailing things back, then election administrators are going to find themselves having to reject more ballots,” said Tammy Patrick, chief program officer at the National Association of Election Officials.
The Postal Service changed its policies to reduce losses because of a decline in mail volume over the past few decades. The slimming down means the USPS is increasingly relying on large mail processing hubs instead of neighborhood post offices. It’s also acknowledging mail takes longer to process than it used to.
“It's not the case that mail is simply going across town anymore," Patrick explained. "It's always the case now that mail is going to a processing plant. That's where it gets sorted. That's where it gets postmarked. Mail delivery is not a one- or two-day turnaround in many cases for many voters, especially in rural areas.”
Slower mail processing and delivery also impact other steps in the voting process.
“Mail affects all voters, affects all states," said Katy Owens-Hubler, director of elections and redistricting at the National Conference of State Legislatures. "And it's not just the ballots. It's also voter information; it’s voter registration."
Further complicating the matter, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that would ban states from accepting any mail-in ballots received after election day. States are challenging the order, arguing that every state gets to administer its own elections. The case is now before the Supreme Court.
“Depending on how the court decides, it could affect primaries, it could affect the general (elections),” Owens-Hubler said. “The planning piece is difficult.”
A ruling is expected by the end of the court’s term this summer, but primary races stretch from March to September, so elections administrators may need to scramble to implement a rule change.
“The biggest thing that I think election officials are a little bit worried about right now is uncertainty,” Owens-Hubler said.
Election officials need the time and resources to properly communicate to voters about deadlines prior to an election.
“Election officials understand that we are in a time of uncertainty," Patrick said. "And what causes them concern is that, in that uncertainty, there can be chaos."
The U.S. Postal Service recommends that anyone voting by mail send in their ballot at least one week before election day. Voters can also go to their local post office and request their ballot be manually postmarked.
“What is most important for voters to know is that early action is important,” Patrick said. “If you've moved, if you change your name, if you're not sure if you're registered, take early action. Register early. Register online if you can. But if you're mailing something back, if you're voting early, request your ballot early to be mailed to you early. Return it early.”
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/news/2026/01/23/usps-postmark-ballot-change