A late December clarification from the U.S. Postal Service has a clear message for Texas voters who like to cut it close: do not wait until the last possible day to mail election paperwork. The updated language explains that a postmark can reflect the time mail reaches a processing center instead of the moment it was dropped in a mailbox, which means anything sent at the buzzer could miss tight election deadlines. Texans planning to register or vote by mail for the March 3 primary are being urged to send forms early or go in person to a post office counter and ask for a manual postmark.
What changed at the Postal Service
In late December, the Postal Service added language to its Domestic Mail Manual clarifying that “the postmark date does not inherently or necessarily align with the date on which the Postal Service first accepted possession of the mailpiece,” and that postmarks are often applied when mail is processed at a regional facility. The update is meant to spell out what a postmark actually represents, but could lead to later-looking postmarks for mail dropped off locally, especially as processing centers and transportation networks are consolidated, according to the Federal Register.
Texas deadlines to watch
Texas requires new voter registration applications to be postmarked or received by Feb. 2 in order to be eligible for the March 3 primary, and applications for a ballot by mail must be received by county early voting clerks by Feb. 20. Completed mail ballots generally must carry a postmark that shows they were mailed by 7 p.m. on Election Day and then arrive at the county office by 5 p.m. the next day to be counted, according to VoteTexas.
Why election officials are worried
A group of senators has warned the Postal Service that if postmarks are applied when mail reaches distant processing centers, ballots mailed on Election Day could appear late and risk rejection in jurisdictions that use postmarks to prove they were sent on time. The agency has responded that the Domestic Mail Manual language is meant only to clarify what the postmark means and “does not change any existing postal operations,” as reported by AP.
How to make sure your mail counts
The Postal Service advises that voters who want a postmark to reflect the day they handed over a ballot or registration form should bring it to a retail counter and request a free manual postmark. USPS also recommends mailing ballots early, ideally at least one week before any receipt deadline, to cut down the chances of late arrival or slow processing, according to the U.S. Postal Service.
Local response in Austin
Central Texas election officials and local outlets have been backing up that advice, warning that dropping a ballot in a neighborhood collection box on the last day could still result in a postmark that misses the legal cutoff. CBS Austin has republished a Votebeat and Texas Tribune dispatch urging voters to mail materials early or seek a manual postmark well ahead of the March primary.
Key dates
Here are the big dates to circle: registration applications must be postmarked or received by Feb. 2; ballot by mail applications must be received by Feb. 20; completed ballots should be postmarked by 7 p.m. on March 3 and arrive by 5 p.m. on March 4 to be counted. Voters are encouraged to double-check rules with their county early voting clerk or consult the state voter guide, as reported by the Texas Tribune.
