Ballot Rejections Soared in Rural Counties After USPS Reduced Mail Service

ProPublica · Ken B. Morales, Jen Fifield, and Misty Harris · 2026-10-22 10:00 UTC

A ProPublica data analysis shows that delays resulting from the agency’s cost-cutting measures have endangered the validity of ballots mailed in rural areas. Counties that voted for Trump in 2024 have been most affected.

Reporting Highlights

- Rural Cuts: Delays resulting from the U.S. Postal Service’s cost-cutting measures have endangered the validity of ballots cast in rural areas, a ProPublica analysis found.

- Rejected Ballots: The rates of ballots rejected for arriving late this year doubled or tripled in areas affected by the cuts compared to the 2022 primary. That wasn’t the case elsewhere.

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