Mail Ballot Rejections Rise as USPS' Delays Threaten Midterms

Late‑arriving Mail Ballots Threaten Voting Access for November Midterm Elections

Election officials across the country are sounding the alarm over a surge of mail ballots arriving after state deadlines, a trend that could undermine the integrity of the upcoming November 3 midterm elections. The warning comes amid growing concerns about United States Postal Service (USPS) delivery reliability and a rapidly evolving legal battle over the agency’s role in elections.

Recent data from the New York Times, compiled from 12 states, indicate that ballots rejected for lateness have risen in proportion to the total number of rejected ballots in recent primaries. The states on the list—many of which host competitive congressional and statewide contests—include Wisconsin, Michigan, and Washington, where the numbers of late‑ballots rejected have jumped dramatically over the past two years.

Wisconsin’s High Rate of Rejections

In Wisconsin’s spring primary, the state rejected about 5,000 mail ballots that arrived after the 8 p.m. deadline, a figure that represents 78 % of all mail ballots rejected that cycle. The same deadline in 2023 saw roughly 2,300 ballots—47 % of rejections—discarded for lateness. The spike underscores a widening gap between the volume of ballots cast by mail and the system’s ability to process them on time.

“We’re seeing a clear pattern that the current system can’t keep up with the increasing use of mail voting,” said a Wisconsin election official. “We’re encouraging voters to drop their ballots early, use drop‑boxes, or mail them well ahead of Election Day.”

Michigan and Washington Follow Suit

Michigan’s August primary witnessed more than 10,000 mail ballots rejected for arriving after the 8 p.m. deadline, nearly double the number of rejections recorded in the comparable 2024 primary. Washington reported over 20,000 late ballots, up from about 16,000 during the same period last year. Together, these states illustrate a nationwide trend that could have ripple effects in future midterm contests.

USPS Delivery Concerns

The USPS maintains that it delivers more than 95 % of mail ballots on time. However, budget constraints, operational restructuring, and slower service in some regions have strained that claim. In a statement, the agency noted:

“There are any number of factors that may impact the timeliness of a returned ballot. As such, our consistent message to voters who choose to vote by mail is to mail early.”

The agency’s December policy change also clarified that a postmark may reflect the date a ballot arrives at a processing facility rather than the date it was placed in a mailbox. This distinction could disadvantage voters in rural communities, where processing centers are far away, especially when ballots are mailed close to Election Day.

Legal Battle Over Postal Service Rules

A separate dispute has emerged over a presidential executive order from former President Donald Trump and a USPS rule that requires states to provide voter information and comply with federal ballot‑envelope standards. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a temporary block on Thursday, arguing that states would suffer irreparable harm from requirements that could not be implemented before the midterms. A hearing is scheduled for September 3, and the administration is appealing the ruling.

The Supreme Court’s June decision, 5‑4, preserved a “grace period” that allows states to accept ballots postmarked by Election Day even if they arrive after Election Day, as long as the state law permits it. Fourteen states already allow such late arrivals, a rule upheld by the Court that could help mitigate some of the delivery issues.

States Adopt Safeguards

In response to the growing concerns, states are bolstering their infrastructure to accommodate mail voting. Colorado, for example, has increased its number of ballot drop‑boxes by 78 % since 2018. Wisconsin officials are urging voters to use drop‑boxes, vote early, or mail their ballots well in advance.

Washington elections director Stuart Holmes offered a candid assessment of the USPS situation:

“The Postal Service, these are great people, hard‑working people, but their operation has become unreliable.”

The comments underscore the frustration of election administrators who depend on the postal system to deliver a critical component of democratic participation.

The Implications for the Midterms

The convergence of delivery challenges, legal uncertainty, and rising numbers of late‑rejected ballots paints a troubling picture for the November 3 midterms. With some states already experiencing high rates of ballot rejection, the risk that voters will be disenfranchised looms larger than ever before. Election officials across the nation are calling for early mailing of ballots and for states to continue expanding drop‑box access, while the legal debate over the USPS’s role remains unresolved.

As the midterm elections draw nearer, the outcome may hinge not only on the political issues at stake but also on the logistics of getting every vote counted. Maine voters, like those in the rest of the country, will be watching closely to see whether the postal system can meet the demands of an increasingly mail‑voting electorate.