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Ballots discounted for late postmarks surged in Washington and Oregon after Postal Service changes
Thousands of ballots were rejected after USPS changes slowed postmarks, and some rural Washington counties saw late-postmark rejection rates top 4%.
- The number of ballots rejected for late postmarks has soared in Washington and Oregon, with thousands of voters having their ballots rejected during this year's primaries due to recent United States Postal Service operational changes.
- Since last year, USPS policy has dictated that mail is transported once a day rather than twice from post offices more than 50 miles away, potentially delaying postmarks even for ballots mailed on time.
- Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read noted a 13% rejection rate in the May primary, up from 9.5% two years earlier, while two rural Washington counties saw more than 4% of ballots rejected for late postmarks.
- County auditors are responding by rushing to add secure drop boxes; Stevens County Auditor Lori Larsen is doubling her county's count to 10, while Yakima County Auditor Charles Ross warned postal changes create inequitable treatment for rural voters.
- Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell criticized the policy as disenfranchising voters, while President Donald Trump's administration continues seeking restrictions on mail-in voting. USPS urges voters to mail ballots at least one week before deadlines.
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24 Articles
24 Articles
Ballots rejected for late postmarks surged in Washington and Oregon after Postal Service changes
Some senators and election officials have warned that changes at the USPS could delay the application of postmarks and prevent otherwise valid ballots from being counted.
·Anchorage, United States
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Associated Press News+21 Reposted by 21 other sources
Ballots discounted for late postmarks surged in Washington and Oregon after Postal Service changes
New data show the number of ballots rejected for late postmarks has soared in the vote-by-mail states of Washington and Oregon.
·New York, United States
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Total News Sources24
Leaning Left7Leaning Right3Center12Last UpdatedBias Distribution54% Center
Bias Distribution
- 54% of the sources are Center
54% Center
L 32%
C 54%
14%
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