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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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #USPS #VotefromHome #PostmarkRules #MailBallots #PostalDelays

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.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Jan. 13, 2026

President Donald Trump’s executive order on elections took yet another hit January 9th, as a federal judge blocked portions of the order trying to dictate election and ballot deadlines, what voting systems can be used, and blocking federal funding for non-compliant states.  

Section 4, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution, referred to as the “Elections Clause,” grants oversight of elections to the states and Congress.  That didn’t, however, stop President Trump from issuing “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections” in March 2025, which included an attack on mail-in voting.  

Universal mail-in voting states Washington and Oregon sued, arguing the executive order was in violation of the Constitution’s Elections Clause and separation of powers.  Federal District Court Judge John H. Chun agreed, enjoining the administration from limiting ballot deadlines to election day unless Congress regulated otherwise.

The judge quoted another decision, writing, “‘The Framers recognized that, in the long term, structural protections against abuse of power were critical to preserving liberty.’ Their solution to governmental power and its perils was simple: divide it.”

The order also stopped the administration from withholding federal funds for states which didn’t comply, and from telling states what election systems could be used to cast ballots.   Three other challenges to the executive order have also prevailed; two have already been appealed.  

We’ve linked the decision at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

The White House – The White House – PRESERVING AND PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY OF AMERICAN ELECTIONS
Brennan Center for Justice – The President’s Executive Order on Elections
American Democracy Minute – (April 2025) Federal Judge Blocks Proof of Citizenship Provisions in Trump Executive Order on Elections
American Democracy Minute – (June 2025) Second Federal Court Invalidates More of Trump’s Executive Order on Elections as Unconstitutional, Burdensome, and Likely to Disenfranchise
American Democracy Minute – (Nov. 2025)  Federal Court in DC Issues Permanent Injunction on Part of Trump Executive Order on Elections; No to Changing Federal Registration Form
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON – Decision in State of Washington v. Trump
The Hill – Judge halts enforcement of Trump executive order against vote-by-mail 

Groups Taking Action:

Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, League of Women Voters US, National Partnership for New Americans

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #TrumpExecutiveOrders #ElectionsClause #USConstitution #Washington #Oregon #VotebyMail #BallotDeadlines

The post Trump’s Executive Order on Elections Handed Another Defeat, as Federal Court Upholds a State’s Right to Set Ballot Deadlines, Choose Methods appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Dec. 29, 2025

Ohio has joined Kansas in eliminating a grace period for mail-in ballots arriving after election day.  A U.S. Supreme Court case from Mississippi could potentially eliminate mail ballot grace periods nationwide, disenfranchising tens of thousands. 

In March 2025, the GOP-dominated Kansas legislature repealed its 2017 three-day grace period law, and as of 2026, requires ballots to be received on or before election day.

With the erosion of U.S. Postal Service delivery standards, several states added grace periods to count late-arriving mail ballots.  But that was before President Donald Trump partially and baselessly blamed his 2020 loss on mail-in ballots, and in March 2025 issued an already court-challenged executive order requiring that all voting occur on election day.

On December 19th, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed SB 293, eliminating that state’s four-day grace period for absentee ballots.   About 8,000 ballots arrived after election day in 2024, according to Secretary of State testimony on the bill.  

DeWine said he QUOTE “reluctantly” signed the bill due to the pending U.S. Supreme Court case, Watson v. Republican National Committee, challenging Mississippi’s grace period law.   That case will be heard next year, and impacts as many as 14 other states with similar laws.

We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

The White House – PRESERVING AND PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY OF AMERICAN ELECTIONS
Kansas Legislature – Senate Bill 4
Kansas Reflector – Kansas Legislature overrides governor’s veto of bill to limit advance voting
BOLTS Magazine – Trump Wants Mail Votes to Arrive By Election Day. Red States Are Rushing to Toe the Line. 
Ohio Capital Journal – Gov. DeWine weighing whether to eliminate Ohio’s absentee ballot grace period
Ohio Capital Journal – Ohio Gov. DeWine signs property tax bills, ‘reluctantly’ approves new voting restrictions

Brennan Center for Justice – (2024) Mail Voting Accuracy

Groups Taking Action:

ACLU Ohio,  National Vote at Home Institute,  Ohio Voice

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #VotebyMail #MailBallotGracePeriod #Ohio #Kansas 

The post Ohio Joins Kansas in Eliminating Grace Periods for Mail-In Ballots; A 2026 Mississippi SCOTUS Case Could Eliminate Them Nationwide appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Dec. 24, 2025

Proof of citizenship, limits on voting by mail and narrowed voter ID options dominated the 37 restrictive state election laws passed in 2025, according to democracy legislation tracker Voting Rights Lab.  Five states accounted for nearly half of the laws passed.  

Texas added a signed sworn statement for the disabled and elderly to vote curbside, and now requires voters who move within the county less than 30 days from the election to return to their previous precinct to vote. 

New Hampshire required copies of ID or a notarized signature with an absentee application, and required anyone registering by mail to include proof of citizenship, domicile and age.  Those registering by mail are often elderly or disabled, and may not have access to documents or means of copying them.

Kansas eliminated its grace period for mail-in ballots, and ballots must arrive by 7 pm election day. 

Indiana’s HB 1680 required proof of citizenship documents to be provided at registration, restricted assistance with filling out voter registration documents, and loosened rules on challenges to voter eligibility at the polls, among several other anti-voter provisions. 

North Dakota now requires that all mail ballots must be received by the close of polls on election day, but no longer accepts mail ballots at the polls, only by mail, drop boxes, or election offices.

We’ve linked the Voting Rights Lab tracker at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Voting Rights Lab –  State bills which restricted voting in 2025
Voting Rights Lab –  Find legislation in your state
Brennan Center for Justice – State Voting Laws Roundup: October 2025

Groups Taking Action:

Common Cause,  AIPI Vote, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, League of Women Voters US

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #VoterSuppression #VoterID #VotebyMail #ProofofCitizenship

The post Restrictive Voting Laws Passed in 20 States in 2025. Proof of Citizenship, Limits on Mail-In Voting and Narrower Voter ID Rules Dominated. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Nov. 25, 2025

We have state updates on mail-in voting rules today. Hawaii’s election commission recommended ending the state’s mail-in voting system; Ohio’s governor is expected to sign a bill ending its mail-ballot grace period; and Montana’s new law requiring a birth date on mail-in ballots was the number one reason for ballot rejection.

First to Hawaii, where an October 1st, conspiracy-laden hearing convinced a majority of the state election commission to recommend returning the state to one day, in-person voting.  Honolulu Civil Beat reports that only 4.5% of Hawaiians vote in person in 2024.  Since the meeting, legislators have voiced continued support for mail-in voting, and the commission recommendation doesn’t appear to have traction.

The Ohio Capital Journal reports that SB 293, requiring mail ballots be returned by election day regardless of postmark, and eliminating the current four-day grace period, was been sent to Governor Mike DeWine November 19th, who is expected to sign it.

A new Montana law requiring a voter’s birth date be added to a mail-in ballot dramatically increased ballot rejection rates in November. The Daily Montanan reports that rejection rates varied by county, but ranged from 1% to 4.5%, with as many as 80% of rejections due to missing or mismatched birthdates.  Voters were contacted to cure ballots, lowering the final rate to around 2%.

We’ve linked to the local reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Honolulu Civil Beat – Turnout Is Up. People Like It. But Voting By Mail Is Under Attack In Hawaiʻi
Hawaii Elections Commission – Minutes of Meeting for Oct. 1, 2025  
Ohio Capital Journal – Ohio lawmakers send new Election Day deadline for absentee ballots law to governor
Daily Montanan – Thousands of ballots rejected due to new birth year law
American Democracy Minute – Can Mail-In Ballots, Eligible in Every Other Way, Be Counted if They Arrive After Election Day?  The Question will be Heard in the U.S. Supreme Court  
American Democracy Minute – Americans Like Voting Early, and Other Lessons from the 2024 Election U.S. Election Assistance Commission Follow Up Report

Groups Taking Action:

National Vote at Home Institute, Common Cause, League of Women Voters US

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

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

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #VotebyMail #VotingGracePeriod #UniversalMailVoting #Hawaii #Ohio #Montana

The post Hawaii Commission Proposes End to Universal Mail Ballots; Ohio May End Mail Ballot Grace Period; New Montana Law Increased Ballot Rejections appeared first on American Democracy Minute.