The U.S. Postal Service has implemented operational changes that formalized in December 2025 now result in longer delays between when mail is sent and when it receives a postmark. This distinction carries significant implications for two imminent deadlines: October 15 for taxpayers filing extended tax returns and November 3 for mail-in voters in the midterm elections.
Under Internal Revenue Service rules, tax returns are generally considered filed on the date they are postmarked, allowing taxpayers to meet the deadline by obtaining a manual postmark at their local post office. However, election procedures vary considerably by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 35 states require mail-in ballots to arrive by Election Day regardless of postmark date, while 15 states plus several territories allow ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive afterward within specified timeframes. This patchwork of rules means voters cannot uniformly rely on postmark dates to satisfy ballot deadlines.
Historical data shows the stakes involved in these procedures. Approximately 48 million voters cast absentee ballots in 2024, representing roughly 30 percent of all votes cast. Among mail-in ballots that year, about 1.2 percent were rejected overall, with 17.8 percent of rejections attributed to missed arrival deadlines.
The Postal Service has announced temporary measures to address ballot delivery ahead of the November 3 election, including additional deliveries to election offices beginning October 24 and hand-postmarking of ballots starting October 26. Election officials recommend voters mail ballots at least a week before deadlines, or request manual postmarks in person at postal counters. Taxpayers and voters in states with strict receipt deadlines face particular risk from mail delays and should consider alternative methods such as in-person submission or certified mail.
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