Ballots rejected for late postmarks surged in Washington and Oregon after recent changes to U.S. Postal Service operations, newly released data shows. The rate of ballots rejected for late postmarks increased by 32% in Washington’s August primary compared to 2024, with 19 counties seeing more than double the rejection rates from the prior primary.
Officials in both states attribute the rise to operational shifts at the Postal Service, which has consolidated mail processing into regional hubs to cut costs. These changes have raised concerns that ballots mailed on or before Election Day may not receive timely postmarks, leading to disqualification. Oregon reported 7,314 ballots rejected for late postmarks during its May primary, a 13% rejection rate compared to 9.5% in 2024.
Counties with the steepest increases in Washington all backed Trump in 2024, with Mason County seeing a 329.7% rise in late-postmark rejections, followed by Stevens County (303.7%), Yakima County (268.5%), Okanogan County (263.5%), and Franklin County (206%). Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs’ office provided the data, which was highlighted in a report by Senator Maria Cantwell.
Policy and Response
Washington and Oregon officials are responding to the issue by expanding access to ballot drop boxes. Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read announced plans to install 20 new drop boxes in areas with limited access, while Washington allocated $300,000 to reimburse counties for adding 21 new drop boxes this year. Read called the primary rejections “unacceptable,” emphasizing that voters should not lose their voices due to mail delays.
The Postal Service’s operational changes have drawn scrutiny from election officials and lawmakers, who warn that further delays could disenfranchise voters ahead of November’s midterm elections. The agency has faced financial pressures, prompting cost-cutting measures that critics argue may undermine mail-in voting reliability.
Political Context
The issue has emerged amid ongoing political debates over mail-in voting. Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized mail-in ballots, alleging widespread fraud despite no evidence supporting the claim. Trump himself has voted by mail in multiple elections. His administration recently asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a judge’s ruling blocking an executive order aimed at restricting mail-in voting, a method used by nearly one-third of U.S. voters in recent elections.
Election integrity advocates argue that the Postal Service’s changes could disproportionately affect voters in rural and remote areas, where mail delivery times are already longer. They point to the sharp increases in rejection rates in Trump-backed counties as evidence of potential systemic barriers to voting.
Broader Implications
The surge in rejected ballots has intensified concerns about the future of mail-in voting, particularly in Western states where it is the dominant method. Oregon’s primary saw a 13% rejection rate for late postmarks, up from 9.5% in 2024, while Washington’s overall rejection rate rose by 32% in its August primary. Election officials in both states are urging voters to use drop boxes or hand-deliver ballots to avoid delays.
The data underscores the growing tension between cost-saving measures at the Postal Service and the need to ensure equitable access to voting. With midterm elections approaching, the issue has become a focal point for debates over election administration and voter rights.