Ballot rejection rates for late arrivals doubled or tripled in rural counties across five states following U.S. Postal Service changes that reduced mail pickup frequencies, according to a ProPublica data analysis. The increases were most pronounced in counties where postal services were cut, while urban areas with unchanged service levels saw stable or declining rejection rates.
The Postal Service began consolidating first-class mail processing at larger regional plants over the past three years to address annual deficits and declining mail volume. A little-noticed change, implemented largely after the 2024 election, halved the frequency of mail pickups at post offices more than 50 miles from these centers, reducing them from twice daily to once. This shift often added a day or more to delivery times and delayed postmarking, which occurs only when mail reaches regional centers.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican election officials in affected areas have highlighted the operational failures caused by the postal changes. Lori Larsen, a Republican Auditor overseeing voting in Stevens County, Washington, described finding more than 500 late ballots in a single mailbox three days after the primary as "jarring." While Postal Service leaders, including Board Chair Amber McReynolds, defended the agency's ability to handle election mail, stating they "work to identify and address issues quickly" so ballots can "move swiftly," the implementation of cost-cutting measures has drawn criticism from local officials who manage the fallout of rejected votes.
What the Left Is Saying
Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, a Democrat, stated that the service changes directed by Republican appointees leading the Postal Service appear to undermine mail-in voting. "I don't think they realized how much it was going to affect their voter base," Hobbs said, noting that Washington has "a lot of rural Republican voters." Hobbs argued that the logistical hurdles created by the postal cuts disproportionately impact voters in rural areas who rely on mail delivery.
What the Numbers Show
ProPublica’s analysis focused on five states that provide detailed data on mail-in ballots: Washington, California, Ohio, North Carolina, and Oregon. In the 11 predominantly rural counties in eastern Washington, nearly 2,000 ballots arrived late in this year’s primary, compared to about 600 in the 2022 midterm primary.
In urban Spokane, where postal service levels remained unchanged, the number of ballots rejected for being late actually dropped. Across the five states, rejection rates in counties with reduced mail service doubled or tripled from 2022 levels. The analysis indicates that the delays had the most substantial effect in areas that voted for President Donald Trump in 2024.
The Bottom Line
Postal Service leaders stated that such delays are less likely in the upcoming November 3 general election due to "extraordinary measures" typically put in place during high-turnout periods. A memo circulated to more than 30,000 post offices instructs managers to separate completed ballots from other first-class mail and deliver those intended for local election offices on the day they arrive for the 10 days preceding the election.
The agency continues to recommend that voters mail their ballots at least a week before their states’ deadlines to account for potential processing delays.