USPS truck cuts risk rejecting tens of thousands of mail-in ballots

The United States Postal Service announced a new policy that will reduce the number of trucks delivering mail to rural post offices from two per day to one. The change, effective this week, could cause tens of thousands of mail‑in ballots to be rejected in the November election. The policy was introduced as a cost‑saving measure amid the post office’s financial crisis.

Rural voters depend on the USPS for ballot delivery and return. In 2023, more than 10 million rural voters cast ballots by mail, and the post office handled about 200 million ballots that year. The new rule cuts delivery capacity, making it harder for ballots to arrive on time. The policy follows a series of budget cuts and operational changes announced by the Biden administration in 2022 to address the post office’s debt.

Ballots that arrive after the deadline are automatically rejected by the USPS. Election officials say the one‑truck limit could delay deliveries by a day or more, especially