Why mailing a ballot close to Election Day may get it rejected for a late postmark

If you're using the U.S. Postal Service to return a ballot close to Election Day, officials recommend getting it postmarked at a post office to avoid getting caught up in mail processing changes.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7008x4672+0+0/resize/7008x4672!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa7%2F83%2F7bea12cf477caf2a401bb8ab2e74%2Fap26246568670102.jpg' alt='A Wake County Board of Elections employee prepares a mail-in ballot to be sent out to a voter in September in Raleigh, N.C.'/><p>If you're using the U.S. Postal Service to return a ballot close to Election Day, officials recommend getting it postmarked at a post office to avoid getting caught up in mail processing changes.</p><p>(Image credit: Matt Ramey)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5984981' />