A ProPublica analysis shows that changes to U.S. Postal Service operations have resulted in a significant rise in late ballot rejections in rural areas, especially in states like Washington. In eastern Washington, nearly 2,000 ballots arrived late during the recent primary, up from about 600 in 2022. Concerns have been raised about how these service changes may affect mail-in voting, particularly among rural Republican voters. Postal Service officials are implementing measures to expedite ballot delivery for the upcoming general election, but experts warn that some ballots may still be rejected.
Key facts
- Over 500 late mail-in ballots were discovered in Stevens County, Washington, after the primary election.
- Nearly 2,000 ballots arrived late in 11 rural counties in eastern Washington, compared to about 600 in 2022.
- Rejection rates for late ballots in affected counties have doubled or tripled compared to 2022.
- Postal Service changes have led to longer delivery times and delayed postmarking for ballots.
- Experts caution that mistakes in the ballot delivery process may still lead to rejections in the upcoming general election.
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