How USPS’s Postmark Date Rule Change Affects Vote By Mail

The USPS has been in the news a lot lately. Between court rulings, executive orders, and internal rule changes, we’re here to help your campaign navigate these developments.

As of December 2025, USPS now postmarks letters and packages on the date they are processed at a postal facility, not when they’re picked up from a mailbox. While this affects anyone sending time-sensitive mail, it will be absolutely consequential for elections.

Those who vote by mail will have to account for the wait time between when ballots are picked up by USPS and when they’re processed. Simply put, voters need to mail in their ballots even earlier than in previous election cycles.

Urging voters to mail in their ballots as soon as possible is a hallmark of good GOTV. Now, it’s more important than ever to communicate best practices around mail-in voting: 

• Most states do not send ballots to all voters. Campaigns should encourage their supporters to request their absentee ballots as soon as they become available, giving them plenty of time to complete and mail them.

• Outreach close to the election must make clear that voters need to mail their ballots in advance of the postmark deadline in their state. Review your state’s Secretary of State website for their recommendations. 

• Election Day GOTV should urge voters to go to their post office, polling place, or a secure ballot drop box to deliver their ballot, not put it in their mailbox.

For additional information, check out AARP’s coverage of the USPS rule change and its implications. The article includes interactive maps with helpful information on VBM rules in each state.

Don’t let this simple rule change disenfranchise your voters. Empower them with informative, engaging GOTV. Contact Stones’ Phones today to plan how to reach your voters this election season.