The U.S. Postal Service suggested states change their election deadlines after 150,630 ballots went to voters too close to the deadline to be counted.
Out of the 3.37 billion pieces of political mail and election mail from 2024, the average delivery time was one day, according to USPS. That meant more than 97% of ballots got to local election officials in fewer than three days and that more than 99% got to them within seven days.
However, there were 150,630 ballots sent off between Oct. 31 and Election Day that, according to USPS, were likely “physically impossible for that voter to receive the Ballot Mail, complete their ballot, and return their ballot by mail in time to meet the jurisdiction’s deadline.” Over 30,000 ballots were sent to voters on Election Day.