Full Breakdown
Late-Postmark Ballot Rejections Rise Sharply in Washington and Oregon
9/9/2026, 6:43:37 AM
Surge in Late-Postmarked Ballot Rejections
Newly released data show that ballots rejected because their postmarks arrived after Election Day have increased markedly in the vote-by-mail states of Washington and Oregon ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. In Washington’s August primary, 20,267 ballots were discarded for late postmarks—a rise of roughly 32 % from the 16,131 rejected in the 2024 primary. Oregon reported 7,314 such rejections during its May primary, a 13 % rejection rate compared with 9.5 % two years earlier.
Postal Service Rule Changes and Their Effect
In December, the United States Postal Service finalized a rule stating that a postmark reflects the date a piece of mail is processed at a distribution center, not the date the agency first took possession of it. The rule also limited daily transport of mail from post offices or collection boxes located more than 50 miles (80 km) from a processing center to a single trip per day. Consolidation of processing centers has pushed many rural communities farther from the nearest hub, lengthening the time between mailing and postmarking.
Rejection Numbers and Geographic Impact
Rural counties have been hardest hit. In Stevens County, Washington, the rate of late-postmarked ballot rejections quadrupled after the rule took effect. Yakima County saw nearly 4.4 % of primary ballots rejected, with the county’s processing center located about 200 miles (320 km) away in Spokane. Benton County experienced a 6 % rejection rate, while Walla Walla County’s rate was approximately 7.4 %. Oregon’s statewide rejection rate of 13 % reflects similar challenges in more remote areas.
Official Responses
State officials have called the trend “unacceptable.” Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read urged lawmakers to fund additional drop boxes, noting that many voters believed their ballots were timely. Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs attributed the increase to recent federal restrictions on mail-in voting and warned that the pattern could persist through the upcoming midterms. The Postal Service advised voters to mail ballots at least one week early or obtain a manual postmark at a post office, free of charge.
Verbatim Quotes
- “More Oregonians had their voices go unheard just because their ballots couldn’t make it through the mail in time,” — Oregon Secretary, of State Tobias Read
- “To me that is a number that suggests that many, if not all, of those folks thought they were timely delivering their ballot into USPS custody,” — County Auditor Lori Larsen
- “I was a little sad to hear that,” — Julie Mabry
- “I know [ballots are] picked up every day, so they don't need a postmark, they'll get there to the courthouse to be counted,” — Julie Mabry
