USPS says mail-in ballots might not get postmark on same day they're dropped off
The U.S. Postal Service has adopted a new rule that could create doubt about whether some ballots mailed by voters by Election Day will receive postmarks in time to be counted.
A USPS rule that took effect on Dec. 24 says mail might not receive a postmark on the same day the agency takes possession of it. The postal service says it isn’t changing its existing postmark practices and is merely clarifying its policy, but some election officials have looked to postmarks as a guarantee that mail ballots were cast before polls closed.
The new rule holds implications for 14 states and Washington, D.C., that count ballots arriving after Election Day if they are postmarked on or before that day — commonly called a “ballot grace period.” In these states, ballots placed in the mail by voters before the deadline may not be counted if the postal service applies a postmark after Election Day.
The USPS rule says that “the postmark date does not necessarily indicate the first day that the Postal Service had possession of the mailpiece.”
https://stateline.org/2025/12/30/usps-says-mail-in-ballots-might-not-get-postmark-on-same-day-theyre-dropped-off/
= new reply since forum marked as read
"Reminder! To ensure an on-time postmark, we recommend mailing your ballot by the Friday before Election Day."
Luckily, up here in WA state, we also have drop off boxes.
DeJoy has completely f---ed up what used to be the wonderful US Postal system. 
Edit: Nevermind maybe it does work that way here, I just never noticed because I always use the "Subscribed" (My Subs) forums or the "Latest Discussions" functions. When you mix the forums in this view, kicking doesn't work like this, but if you go straight to the forum, it does. My bad on that!!! 
TY for pointing it out.
I don't even know why anyone would assume it would be, that's what not a postmark is, so this article (and esp. the headline) doesn't really make much sense to me 
DeJoy sucks of course but this is not a change in the postmarking process. Mail your ballots early like the instructions on every one I've ever seen says that you should do, and you'll be fine. Or drop it off somewhere that you know it will be counted if you're running late, don't mail it. You can also show up to the polling place in some states with your mail-in or absentee ballot in hand, hand it over, and get a new ballot to use there.
Start opening and counting the ballots upon receipt. Don't wait until the end of election day to start opening the mailed ballots. I think it would create more excitement for mailing early ballots if they did this.
The mailed ballots could be processed, and counted, ready to add to the total once the polls close. Instead, they sit untouched, sometimes for weeks, until after the polls have closed and reported results.
