USPS Postmark Policy Update

As of December 24, 2025, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has updated their policy on postmarks and it is now available at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/24/2025-20740/postmarks-and-postal-possession.

The update published in the Federal Register emphasized multiple times throughout that "this new language in the DMM does not change any existing postal operations or postmarking practices, but is instead intended to improve public understanding of postmarks and their relationship to the date of mailing."

It doesn't sound like any practices have changed but to make sure your ballot by mail counts, have it postmarked at the post office by the due date of March 3, 2026 if not before. The same goes for bills and other important documents.