With Election Day fast approaching, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is reminding voters that it is prepared to handle election mail safely and on schedule. The agency’s message is clear: do not wait until the last minute. Domestic, non‑military voters should mail their completed ballots before Election Day and aim to have them in the postal system at least one week prior to the deadline set by their state election officials.
Strong on‑time performance
According to USPS data through Oct. 9, 97.98% of ballot mail met the service standard for on‑time delivery. In the 2024 general election, 99.6% of mailed ballots reached election officials within three days, demonstrating the system’s reliability.
Additional measures beginning Oct. 24
Starting Saturday, Oct. 24, the Postal Service will roll out extra steps to speed ballot processing and transportation. These steps include additional deliveries and collections, special pickups, dedicated sorting plans at processing facilities, and localized handling of ballots. The goal is to move election mail more quickly once it is identified as such.
What voters can do
Postmaster General David Steiner said, “The Postal Service is confident and ready to deliver a successful Election Mail season. We share a common goal: instilling confidence in all Americans that their Election Mail will be handled securely – and delivered reliably.”
Adrienne Marshall, director of Election and Government Mail Services, added that postal employees are working diligently and asked voters to do their part by mailing early. She also reminded voters to pay attention to postmarks. Because postmarks are usually applied at processing facilities, the date on a ballot envelope may not match the day it was collected. Voters who want the postmark date to reflect the day they mailed their ballot can request a manual postmark at any Postal Service retail location at no cost.
Security oversight
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to work with federal, state, and local partners to protect election mail. Inspectors will observe ballot processing and delivery, review physical security, and report any concerns to postal leadership for possible corrective action.
Board of Governors Chair Amber McReynolds noted, “The Postal Service has a long and strong record of successfully delivering Election Mail. That record is not accidental, and it reflects extensive planning, close coordination with scores of stakeholders, and the training and commitment of hundreds of thousands of postal employees who understand the importance of this responsibility.”
How to report issues
Anyone who notices suspicious mail or a security incident involving election mail can call the Postal Inspection Service’s national hotline at (877) 876‑2455 or file a report online at uspis.gov/report. Additional guidance on election mail procedures and security is available at usps.com and uspis.gov/election-mail-security.
Original reporting: 2news.com — read the source article.
