
Postal delays and political fears threaten mail ballot counts in 2026 midterms
The U.S. Postal Service’s Regional Transportation Optimization (RTO) program is slowing mail delivery across 42.5% of continental U.S. zip codes, risking disenfranchisement for late mail voters. Simultaneously, Democratic strategists face declining voter confidence in mail ballots due to political rhetoric, despite Supreme Court blocks on federal restrictions. Late ballot rejections have surged to 64% in recent primaries, prompting USPS to extend hours and create dedicated postmark lines.













