A group of U.S. senators is voicing concern over U.S. Postal Service processing changes and what those could mean for voting with mail ballots.
14 minutes agoFederal mental health funding restored for programs in San Antonio, across US after abrupt reversalRead full article: BUSY FORECAST: Cold front, first freeze, and rain chances for San AntonioJanuary 15, 2026 at 6:58 PM FILE - Employees sort vote-by-mail ballots from municipal elections on Election Day at the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections Office, Nov.
4, 2025, in Doral, Fla. Updated agency policy says postmarks might not indicate the first day the Postal Service received the mail but rather the day it was handled in one of its processing centers. Those centers are increasingly likely to be further away from certain communities because of recent USPS consolidations, which could further delay postmarks, the 16 senators wrote.to Postmaster General David Steiner, noting that many states use postmark dates to determine whether a mail ballot can be counted. “These changes will only increase the likelihood of voter disenfranchisement.” The consequences could be particularly acute in rural areas where mail has to travel farther to reach regional processing centers, they added. “In theory, a rural voter could submit their ballot in time according to their state law, but due to the changes you are implementing, their legally-cast ballot would not be counted as it sits in a local post office,” they wrote. “As we enter a year with many local and federal elections, the risk of disrupting this vital democratic process demands your attention and action.” The Postal Service has received the letter and will respond directly to those who sent it, spokesperson Martha Johnson said.“While we are not changing our postmarking practices, we have made adjustments to our transportation operations that will result in some mailpieces not arriving at our originating processing facilities on the same day that they are mailed,” its website says. “This means that the date on the postmarks applied at our processing facilities will not necessarily match the date on which the customer’s mailpiece was collected by a letter carrier or dropped off at a retail location.” Johnson said the language in the final rule “does not change any existing postal operations or postmarking practices.” She added that the agency looked forward to “clarifying the senators' misunderstanding.” “Our public filing was made to enhance public understanding of exactly what a postmark represents, its relationship to the date of mailing and when a postmark is applied in the process,” she said. People dropping off mail at a post office can request that a postmark be applied manually, ensuring the postmark date matches the mailing date, the Postal Service's website says. Manual postmarks are free of charge.processing and transportation networks with an emphasis on regional hubs. The aim of the initiative is to cut costs for the agency, which has grappled with Under the plan, the Postal Service got rid of twice-daily mail dispatches from local post offices to regional processing centers. That means mail received after the only transfer truck leaves sits overnight until the next daily transfer, the senators wrote.“Not being able to have faith that the Postal Service will mark ballots on the day they are submitted and mail them in a timely manner undermines vote-by-mail voting, in turn undermining California and other elections,” California Secretary of State Shirley Weber said in a statement. She said her office will “amplify messaging to voters” who use mailed ballots that they must return their ballots early if they plan to use the post office. Election officials in Washington state, where voting is done almost entirely by mail, are recommending that those who return their ballot within a week of Election Day do so at a drop box or voting center. “Given the operational and logistical priorities recently set by the USPS, there is no guarantee that ballots returned via mail will be postmarked by the USPS the same day they are mailed,” the secretary of state's office said in a statement. The senators urged Steiner to restore “timely postmarks” and fully stand up an election mail task force. The lawmakers who signed the letter represented California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Maine, Connecticut, New Jersey and Maryland. All are Democrats but one, an independent who typically aligns with the Democratic Party. Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Jefferson Middle School student arrested, charged with assault of another student, NISD police sayBexar County judge’s ‘no-contact’ order sparks claims of retaliation and erratic courtroom behaviorAt-home flu tests: What you need to know before taking oneHere's what's been found in the San Antonio river so farThere are not enough mental health workers in Texas. What is the state doing about it?Former Robb teacher testifies about the moments her and her students experienced during shootingMan ‘stunned’ by fire damage to neighbors’ North Side homeFinancial expert shares how to set a ‘financial reset’ budget plan for year aheadDRONE VIDEO- Tour the drained San Antonio RiverLook at the River Walk as it's being drainedPeople in Northeast Side neighborhood fearful about repeated nighttime gunfire
Shirley Weber U.S. News Elections David Steiner Washington News Politics
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Read Jerome Powell's letter to senators in July about Fed renovationsBusiness Insider tells the global tech, finance, stock market, media, economy, lifestyle, real estate, AI and innovative stories you want to know.
Read more »
Postal Service unveils Muhammad Ali Forever Stamp in Louisville, KentuckyPostal officials have unveiled a commemorative stamp of boxing legend Muhammad Ali in Louisville, Kentucky. The stamp features a 1974 Associated Press photograph of Ali in his prime as a fighter. The Postal Service has printed 22 million of these stamps, which went on sale Thursday.
Read more »
Postal Service unveils new Muhammad Ali stamp in champ’s hometownThe Postal Service printed 22 million of the Ali stamps.
Read more »
Postal Service unveils new Muhammad Ali stamp in champ's hometownPostal officials have unveiled a commemorative stamp of boxing legend Muhammad Ali in Louisville, Kentucky
Read more »
Senators worry that US Postal Service changes could disenfranchise voters who cast ballots by mailA group of Democratic U.S. senators is voicing concern over U.S. Postal Service processing changes and what those could mean for voting with mail ballots.
Read more »
Senators concerned about Postal Service changes to mail-in ballotsA group of Democratic U.S. senators is voicing concern over U.S. Postal Service processing changes and what those could mean for voting with mail ballots. Updated agency policy says the postmark date on mail might not indicate the first day the Postal Service received it, but rather the day it was handled in a regional processing center.
Read more »