Politics

Ballot Rejections Soared in Rural Counties After USPS Reduced Mail Service

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 22/10/2026, 14:24:24 UTC.

Briefings

ProPublica analysis reveals a spike in late-ballot rejections in eastern Washington counties following USPS consolidation of first-class mail processing. Between August and October 2026, nearly 2,000 ballots were rejected in 11 rural counties due to delays caused by reduced pickup frequency and consolidation at regional plants. This contrasts with urban Spokane, where rejection rates dropped, highlighting regional disparities. The data spans the 2024 primary and extends into the 2026 general election period, showing rejection rates in affected counties doubled or tripled compared to 2022.

Key points

• In eastern Washington, nearly 2,000 ballots were rejected in 11 rural counties between August and October 2026 due to USPS consolidation of first-class mail processing.
• Rejection rates in these counties doubled or tripled compared to 2022, while urban Spokane saw a drop in late-ballot rejections despite the same service cuts.

Context

The evidence covers the period from early August 2026 through the 2026 primary and general election. It contrasts rural rejection spikes with urban Spokane's decline, noting that delays in rural areas endangered ballot validity across the country. The analysis compares 2026 figures to 2022 data to show the impact of USPS cost-cutting measures.

Limitations

Data is limited to five states with detailed mail-in ballot data: Washington, California, Ohio, North Carolina, and Oregon. Coverage excludes counties where postal pickups remained unchanged, and rejection rates are only available for four states in the chart. Some uncertainty exists regarding the full extent of delays in rural areas versus urban centers.

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