The American public can rely on the United States Postal Service’s over 650,000 employees to fulfill our role in the electoral process. A review of our performance and preparation to deliver Election Mail volume in the 2022 election cycle is found in our 2022 Post-Election Analysis report. Previous results can be found in our 2021 Post-Election Analysis and 2020 Post-Election Analysis.
On September 19, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and USPS Leadership held a media briefing to detail the Postal Service’s preparedness to deliver the nation’s ballots ahead of the 2024 general election.
On August 29, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and USPS Leadership held a media briefing to detail the Postal Service’s preparedness to deliver the nation’s ballots ahead of the 2024 general election.
The Postal Service provides a secure, efficient and effective way for citizens to participate when policymakers decide to use mail as part of their elections. The Postal Service has a robust and tested process for proper handling and timely delivery of Election Mail. Every federal election cycle, we make efforts across the nation to inform local and state election officials about mailing procedures, our operational standards, and our recommended best practices for utilizing the mail.
It’s any item mailed to or from authorized election officials that enables citizens to participate in the voting process — including ballots, voter registration cards, absentee voting applications and polling place notifications. Election Mail should not be confused with Political Mail, which is any material mailed for campaign purposes by a registered political candidate, campaign committee or committee of a political party, as well as any material mailed by a political action committee or organization engaging in issues advocacy or voter mobilization.
The Official Election Mail logo is a unique registered trademark designed exclusively for inclusion in the design of official Election Mail. Election officials are not required to use the logo, but the logo does appear on most Election Mail. When the Official Election Mail logo appears on a mailpiece, voters recognize the mail as important and distinct from partisan political mailings. Additionally, the logo serves to identify official Election Mail for Postal Service™ workers and distinguishes it from the millions of other mailpieces that are processed daily.
The Official Election Mail logo should be used on any mailpiece created by an election official that is mailed to or from a citizen of the United States for the purpose of participating in the voting process. This includes balloting materials, voter registration cards, absentee applications, polling place notifications and voter reply mail. The logo should be used on all classes of mail and all processing categories.
The United States Postal Inspection Service is responsible for ensuring the safety of all mail, including Election Mail. Please visit the Postal Inspection Service website for more information relating to Election Mail security. To report law enforcement matters relating to Election Mail and for general information about the Inspection Service please visit www.uspis.gov.
If you choose to vote by mail, we encourage you to explore resources available from your state and local election authorities. They can provide information about processes, rules, deadlines and policies specific to your state. USPS® guidance and recommendations on how to successfully use the mail can be found below.
It’s important to understand your local jurisdiction’s rules and requirements for participating in an election. If you are eligible to vote by mail and choose to do so, you should plan ahead to give yourself enough time to receive and then complete and return your ballot by your state’s deadlines.
If you are a nonmilitary voter located in the United States and you choose to use the mail to return your completed ballot, our general recommendation is that, as a common-sense measure, you mail your completed ballot before Election Day, and at least one week prior to your state’s deadline. Some states may recommend allowing even more time for mailing completed ballots. In addition, some states require mail-in ballots to be received by the election office by a specified deadline, while other states require mail-in ballots to be postmarked by a specific date and received within a certain number of days later. You should always check to make sure you understand your state’s requirements and recommendations on mailing your completed ballot. You can look for information about your state’s requirements and recommendations here: Find your state election website.
Some jurisdictions automatically mail ballots to all eligible voters. In jurisdictions that require eligible voters to request a ballot in order to receive one through the mail, we recommend that domestic, nonmilitary voters request their ballot as early as their jurisdiction allows.
Completed ballots are handled as First-Class Mail® service, regardless of whether they are prepaid by election officials or mailed with a stamp affixed by the voter. The only situation where completed ballots are not handled as First-Class Mail service is where the voter opts instead to pay for a premium service like Priority Mail® service or Priority Mail Express® service.
Unless your state or local election officials provide you with a prepaid return envelope, you should make sure appropriate postage is affixed to your return ballot envelope. To help voters, the Postal Service requires election officials to inform voters of the amount of First-Class postage required to return their ballots, if the voter decides to return their completed ballot by mail.
The Postal Service’s policy is to postmark all ballots mailed by voters, whether they are prepaid by election officials or mailed with a stamp affixed by the voter. Be sure to check collection times posted on collection boxes and at Post Office™ locations and retail facilities. Also be mindful of when mail is delivered and picked up at your residential mailbox. Ballots deposited after the collection time won’t be picked up, or postmarked, until the following business day. Voters should also be aware of mail collection times and practices if ballots are deposited in an office or residential mailroom.
The Postal Service recognizes that Election Mail, and ballots in particular, are time-sensitive. We are committed to the expeditious processing and delivery of Election Mail, particularly ballots. However, to minimize the risk that a ballot will not arrive before your state’s deadline, we recommend that, as a best practice, voters act early if they plan to use the mail to return their completed ballot.
The mail is an important vehicle to enable U.S. military members and citizens who live abroad to vote in elections.
Uniformed services voters who are overseas with authorized APO/FPO/DPO addresses may be able to return absentee ballots using Priority Mail Express service with Label 11-DOD, DOD Express Mail Label Absentee Ballot. The label includes “Waiver of Signature” and “Guaranteed by End of Day” endorsements so ballots can be delivered the day they arrive at the destination Post Office facility. For More Information:
We work closely with election officials at all levels of government to provide recommendations on mailpiece design, mailing preparation and entry, and delivery timing.
We also recognize that voters have options other than the mail for participating in the electoral process. To ensure that individuals who wish to use the mail to vote can do so successfully, election officials and voters should keep in mind the time required for both legs of a ballot’s delivery through the mail — to the voter and back to election officials.
Envelopes used for sending balloting materials, as well as any envelopes or postcards enclosed for return mail should include certain identification markings approved by USPS, including the Official Election Mail logo and Intelligent Mail® barcode.
USPS mailpiece design analysts can provide guidance on envelopes that meet Postal Service standards and help election officials construct mailing plans.
For more details, see: Official Election Mail – Graphic Guidelines and Logos
The Official Election Mail logo with registered trademark is designed exclusively for use on Election Mail. Tag 191, Domestic and International Ballots, is a green container tag that identifies trays and sacks of ballot mail. The Official Election Mail logo and Tag 191 should be used by election officials to help improve the visibility of ballots as they enter and travel through the mailstream.
The Postal Service offers customized service type identifiers (STIDs) specifically for ballots to improve ballot mail visibility. These identifiers have proven instrumental in identifying and tracking ballots in the mailstream. In addition, ballot identifiers have increased the visibility of outbound and return Election Mail within the automation environment.
Some state and local election officials have expressed interest in expanding the use of prepaid reply mail so voters don’t have to pay for postage when returning their ballots by mail. The Postal Service has a number of solutions available to assist election officials with prepaid reply mail.
If a prepaid return envelope is not used, appropriate postage should be affixed to the return ballot envelope. To help voters, the Postal Service requires election officials to inform voters of the amount of First-Class postage required to return their ballots.
If your jurisdiction is experiencing Election Mail service issues, please report them using the form found at www.electionmail.org.
Two common causes of Election Mail issues are poorly designed mailpieces and state laws or other binding directives that do not build in enough time to account for mail delivery timeframes for time-sensitive Election Mail that is sent to and returned by voters using the mail. To ensure that individuals who wish to use the mail to vote can do so successfully, election officials and voters should keep in mind the time required for both legs of a ballot’s delivery through the mail — to the voter and back to election officials.
Yes, it can be applied to most Election Mail and the Postal Service strongly recommends its use by election officials. This barcode is used to sort and track individual pieces of mail and gain greater visibility into the flow of the mail. It allows mailers, in this case, election officials, to participate in multiple USPS programs simultaneously, expand their ability to track individual pieces of mail, and see where ballots are within the mailstream. Refer to the Election Mail kit for more information.
The Postal Service recommends that election officials include the Official Election Mail logo on their Election Mail, but use of the logo is not required. The Official Election Mail logo should be used on any mailpiece created by an election official that is mailed to or from a citizen of the United States for the purpose of participating in the voting process.
When the Official Election Mail logo appears on a mailpiece, voters recognize the mail as important and as distinct from partisan political mailings. Additionally, the logo serves to identify official Election Mail for Postal Service workers and distinguishes it from the millions of other mailpieces that are processed daily.
Since this logo is a registered trademark, it is important for election officials to:
The Postal Service generally recommends that domestic, nonmilitary voters who choose to return their completed ballots by mail do so before Election Day, and at least one week prior to their state deadline. Some states may recommend allowing even more time for mailing completed ballots. Voters need to understand their jurisdiction’s requirements and recommendations, and we provide them with the following link to help: Find your state election website. It’s also recommended that overseas voters return their ballots using a level of service that, based on the information available, should result in the ballot being received by the applicable state deadline. We strongly advise election officials to factor into their planned mailings the time it will take to both send and receive Election Mail.
The Postal Service can use localized continuity of operations plans in case of emergencies to help ensure that the USPS system continues to function for the American people. With a longstanding history of quickly adapting operational plans to changing conditions, the Postal Service maintains steady communications with mailers during natural disasters or other events that require emergency responses. We keep residential customers and business mailers updated on facility service disruptions on the USPS service alerts page.
The Postal Service can assist local and state election officials with any of their Election Mail needs. Managers of Customer Relations serve as your primary points of contact to guide you through the process and match USPS services to your needs. This role was previously performed by Election and Political Mail Coordinators.
Mailpiece design analysts (MDAs) are specially trained USPS employees who can answer questions about mailpiece design, give advice on evaluating pieces of mail for automation discounts, provide technical assistance on envelope standards, and help construct mailing plans.
For assistance from an MDA, email MDA@usps.gov or call 877-672-0007 (select option 2 for mailing and shipping, then option 2 for MDA). Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time (closed federal holidays).
