U.S. Postal Service Audit Reveals Procedural Failures and Late Postmark Rejections in Primary Elections

An audit by the Office of Inspector General found that the U.S. Postal Service failed to properly handle mail ballots during the primary elections. The report identified a lack of training for staff, deficiencies in tracking, and errors that led to delays or incorrect postmarks. While the agency processed nearly 99% of ballots on time, specific failures occurred across multiple facilities. In one instance, a group of primary election ballots intended for New Jersey were erroneously sent to Tennessee due to a lost tracking label. Data from Washington state also showed a significant increase in ballots being rejected for late postmarks, particularly in counties that endorsed by Trump in the 2024 election. Senator Maria Cantwell noted that these rejections are often caused by changes in USPS policies, such as mail being transported only once a day from certain locations. The administration announced a new rule that would allow the USPS to regulate mail voting, which is currently being weighed by the Supreme Court. Postal workers and election officials have expressed concern that these new rules could disenfranchise voters if not implemented carefully.

Sources

• ProPublica
  U.S. Postal Service Failed to Properly Handle Some Ballots During This Year’s Primary Elections, Audit Finds
• Newsweek
  Map Shows Rise in Rejected Mail Ballots by Trump, Harris Counties
• NJ.com
  N.J. primary election ballots were mistakenly shipped to Tennessee, USPS audit finds

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Paywall and unreadable sources

• Axios
  Washington officials push ballot drop boxes amid mail delays
• PBS
  Ballots discounted for late postmarks surged in Washington and Oregon after Postal Service changes