Postmark change could affect ballots and bill deadlines

The U.S. Postal Service will change postmarks in 2026 so they show the date an item is first processed by automated sorting machines, which may be days after an item was dropped off; the article reports this may affect time-sensitive mail such as ballots and bills.

The U.S. Postal Service is changing how it applies postmarks beginning in 2026. The agency says the postmark will show the date an item is first processed by automated sorting machines rather than the date it was placed in a mailbox or handed to a clerk. The change is described as part of broader processing and modernization efforts under the Delivering for America initiative. Officials noted that the postmark date does not necessarily indicate the first day the Postal Service had possession of an item. Key facts: - The rule change takes effect in 2026 and will use the date of first automated processing for postmarks, as reported in the article. - A postmark may therefore show a date that is days later than when an item was dropped off or handed in. - The article lists time-sensitive items potentially affected, including tax returns, bill payments, legal documents and mail-in ballots. - The Postal Service is reported to advise obtaining a manual postmark at a post office counter as a related measure. Summary: The reported change shifts how the official postmark date is determined and may affect deadlines tied to mailed items, according to the article. Undetermined at this time.