The U.S. Postal Service said during a recent briefing that it is committed to secure and timely delivery of ballots during the mid-term election season, continuing a tradition of more than 150 years.
“The Postal Service is confident and ready to deliver a successful election mail season,” said Postmaster General David Steiner in a press release. “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, encouraged voters to do their part by mailing ballots early.
In Hawaiʻi, mail-in ballots must be received — NOT POSTMARKED — by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. Ballots received after the deadline cannot be counted.
The postal service recommends domestic non-military voters mail their completed ballots before Election Day on Nov. 3, and at least one week before they must be received by their local election office.
Voters can ensure their completed ballot-return envelope receives a postmark that aligns with the mailing date by requesting a free manual postmark at a post office. In some instances, the postmark date may not match the date the item was collected by a letter carrier, dropped off at a retail location or placed in a collection box.
Beginning Oct. 24, the postal service will implement measures at postal facilities nationwide to move ballot mail swiftly and securely in the final weeks of the election season.
Measures include extra deliveries and collection, special pick-ups, specialized sort plans at processing facilities to expedite delivery to boards of elections, and localized handling and transportation of ballots.
These measures will continue through the last day in each state that boards of elections accept completed mail-in ballots as timely.
For the 2024 General Election, the Postal Service delivered 99.6% of ballots from voters to election officials within three days, as reported in a 2024 Post-Election Analysis.
The Postal Inspection Service is working with local, state and federal law enforcement and observing processing and delivery operations to ensure the security and integrity of election mail.
The public can report suspicious mail or other activity at 877-876-2455 or www.USPIS.gov/report.
To learn more, visit www.uspis.gov/election-mail-security.
