# Mail early: Election officials urge ballots in pronto amid Postal Service slowdowns

> Election officials warn voters to send ballots early to avoid rejection due to Postal Service delays.
- Title: Mail early: Election officials urge ballots in pronto amid…
- Summary: Election officials warn voters to send ballots early to avoid rejection due to Postal Service delays. Election officials urge voters to mail ballots a week…
- Keywords: us postal service, election officials, ballot rejection, mail early, postal service slowdowns, election day, ballot drop boxes, tobias read, steve hobbs, oregon, voting, news
- Source: Salon — https://salon.com/2026/10/14/mail-early-election-officials-urge-people-to-get-ballots-in-pronto-amid-postal-service-slowdowns
- Author: Dion Nissenbaum, Votebeat
- Published: 2026-10-14T10:00:28+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: us postal service, election officials, ballot rejection, mail early, postal service slowdowns, election day, ballot drop boxes, tobias read, steve hobbs, oregon, voting, news
## Postal Service challenges
The U.S. Postal Service faces financial issues and slower mail delivery despite decades of losses.
## Postal Service financial issues
The Postal Service has lost $118 billion since 2007 and risks running out of cash early next year.
## Regional Transportation Optimization plan
The Postal Service's Regional Transportation Optimization plan reduced pickup times at 15,000 post offices more than 50 miles from regional centers.
## Oregon ballot rejection rates
Oregon saw a 13% ballot rejection rate in May's primary due to improper postmarking, up from 9.5% in 2024.
## Oregon drop box expansion
Oregon added 20 new ballot drop boxes for November to help rural voters who face long travel times.
## Tobias Read's warning
Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read urges voters to send ballots a week before Election Day to avoid rejection.

> We can’t count on it, said Read, referring to the Postal Service. It might work, but I don’t want anyone to be taking a chance with their ballot
## Steve Hobbs' warning
Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs urges voters to send ballots 10 days before deadlines to prevent rejection.

> If you’re going to mail, you better do it right away, he said. Don’t wait
## Postal Service's mail early campaign
The Postal Service urges voters to send ballots at least a week before Election Day to ensure they are counted.
## Key takeaway

Election officials urge voters to mail ballots a week before Election Day to prevent rejection from Postal Service delays.