The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Jan. 23, 2026

Most Americans assume that postal mail is postmarked the day it is received.  But in August 2025, the U.S. Postal Service clarified its rules for “Postmarks and Postal Possession.”  While the post office says it hasn’t changed its policy, its new definition has ramifications for your mailed financial and tax documents, and importantly, your absentee or mail-in ballot. 

Under former U.S. Postmaster Louis DeJoy, many Local Processing Centers (LPCs) were closed and their mail sent to Regional Processing and Distribution Centers (RPDCs) as a cost-saving measure.  Most Americans have seen the results, with the erosion of delivery standards due to trucking distances to have the mail sorted, postmarked and sent back to local post offices.  

This change has significant consequences for the 46.8 million Americans who vote by mail.  The added time & distance means your ballot may not be postmarked for 24 or more hours after the post office takes possession.  Problem is, many states use postmarks to determine whether a ballot is eligible or ineligible, particularly if there is a receipt grace period after election day.   

To ensure your ballot arrives on time, mail-in voters should return their ballot 7-10 days early, and the USPS says customers may bring postmark-dependent mail to a local post office service desk for hand canceling. That is, IF you can get to a post office.

We linked to more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

U.S. Postal Service – Federal Register Notice of Additional Postmarking Information 
National Conference of State Legislatures – How the New USPS Postmark Changes Could Affect Mail Voting
PBS News Hour – How this new mail rule could affect your ballot, your tax return and more
National Society of Tax Professionals – USPS Announces Changes to the Postmark Date System
Save the Post Office – Implementation Update on the USPS Processing Network
Votebeat Texas – Postal Service changes mean Texas voters shouldn’t wait to mail voter registrations and ballots
U.S. Postal Service – Postmarking Myths and Facts 
American Postal Workers Union – 

Groups Taking Action:

National Vote at Home Institute, Save the Post Office, American Postal Workers Union

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State

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The post Think Your Mail-in Ballot Gets Automatically Postmarked on the Day You Drop it Off?  Think Again. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.