Mail ballot rejections climb in Northwest states after Postal Service adjustments

The short version

• Late postmarks led to higher volumes of uncounted mail ballots in Oregon and Washington after U.S. Postal Service adjustments.[Associated Press]
• Oregon documented 7,314 rejected grace-period ballots, while Washington counted 20,267 late-postmarked ballots in primary voting.[Associated Press]
• California also saw approximately 93,500 ballots rejected in its June primary due to late arrival or postmarks.[Associated Press]
• The Postal Service acknowledged in writing that mail transport shifts could cause postmarking delays.[Associated Press]

Key facts

• Late-postmark ballot rejections grew in Washington and Oregon following operational shifts at the U.S. Postal Service.[Associated Press]
• In Oregon's May primary, 7,314 ballots arriving in the grace period were disqualified for late postmarks, a 13% rejection rate.[Associated Press]
• Washington logged 20,267 ballots with late postmarks in its primary, rising from 16,131 in 2024.[Associated Press]
• California had roughly 93,500 ballots rejected in its June primary because they were received or postmarked late.[Associated Press]
• The Postal Service acknowledged in a written statement that changes to mail transport could create delays in postmarking.[Associated Press]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Ballots discounted for late postmarks surged in Washington and Oregon after Postal Service changesAssociated Press · Wire: associated-press