Postmark change could impact getting ballots, bills in on time

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: msn/USA Today

12h


The U.S. Postal Service is making new changes in 2026, including adjustments to the postmark process, which could result in late fees and penalties for anyone mailing time-sensitive documents such as tax returns or bill payments.

For decades, the postmark – an official mark that shows where and when mail was accepted by the Postal Service – has been used in law as proof that an individual met a deadline, such as submitting a ballot by Election Day.

A USPS postmark used to indicate the date when mail was dropped in a mailbox or submitted at the post office counter. Now, USPS is clarifying in a new rule that the postmark will reflect the date an envelope is first processed by an automated USPS sorting machine, potentially days after it was dropped off – not the actual drop-off date.

Changes to USPS are part of its Delivering For America initiative that includes consolidation of mail processing and modernizing infrastructure to fit a time when the volume of paper letters is dropping and the number of packages is increasing.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/postmark-change-could-impact-getting-ballots-bills-in-on-time/ar-AA1TiLXe

[QueerDuck]

1. In the past, where a postmark was critical... I asked the desk clerk to hand-stamp my letter...

rather than relying on the automatic system. This was quite a few years ago, before the cancellation date became an issue... but even then I'd receive an occasional card or letter with NO cancellation date. In my case, I couldn't risk that happening so I made sure the clerk "cancelled" the postage with her own date stamper.

I wonder if people with date-critical items like this will now start standing in line for personalized human service.

[progree]

2. Another one for the 2nd edition of the "Enshittification - Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse" book. Why do we

keep evolving backwards?

Our home owners association got so tired of payments being delivered late (even though most were mailed in what used to be considered a timely way) that they explored electronic alternatives (would have been a considerable expense) and finally decided to install a mailbox just for dues payments and correspondence with the HOA.

And mailboxes are disappearing.

I know some SPITR types* will be along shortly telling us that it doesn't matter, everyone is paying bills electronically, most with automatic withdrawals, except for some pathetic stupid old dinosaurs.

Well, I've been paying most bills for at least 2 decades with automatic withdrawals, but there are a couple that have to be paid the old-fashioned way. And sometimes we're asked to snail mail in tax returns to the IRS - has happened to me in the past few years -- as a result of audit requests, and even for some really stupid reason per TurboTax that they can't submit it electronically.

*Smartest Person In The Room types

[sl8]

3. You can still get same day postmarks if you go to the Post Office.

Same day postmarks were never guaranteed if you just dropped your letter in a mailbox.

[progree]

4. I don't have a car because I'm an environmentalist whacko, and though there is no guarantee for mailboxes

being postmarked the same day (even if put in the mailbox before the pickup time), it was a near certainty that it would be postmarked the next day, anyway, I never had a problem with that issue.

I've been walking to the post office (1.5 miles) since they got rid of the neighborhood mailbox, and I really need to snail mail something. I needed the exercise anyway. Lucky I was never too sick.

(Come to think of it, a few years ago they got rid of the post office that was in the big grocery store nearer where I lived).

[NowsTheTime]

5. Another attempt to fix elections? "Many states also accept ballots that are postmarked by Election Day" (from article)