Introduction
Voting by mail in Washington State continues to be a safe method of submitting your ballots. Be advised, however, two recent United States Postal Service (USPS) policy changes
are affecting service on a nationwide basis. On December 24, 2025, the USPS clarified the definition of the postmark. A mailed item is now postmarked on the date it reaches an automated processing facility, not the date the sender actually drops it in the mailbox. On April 1, 2025, the Regional Transportation Optimization (RTO) initiative, included the consolidation of mail processing centers across the country, making it more common that postmarks may not necessarily reflect the date that USPS took possession of a mail piece. For Eastern Washington, that facility is a single building, the regional processing center on
South Spotted Road in Spokane.
How will these changes impact the postmarking of ballot
mail?
A ballot envelope traveling through the processing network may not receive a postmark the same day it is collected by the Postal Service. A ballot handed to a clerk in a USPS facility outside of the RTO may not move that night. It reaches the RTO in Spokane the next day, or later, and is postmarked there.
How can you make sure your ballot is counted?
- Drop your ballot in a designated Dropbox location, OR
- Take your ballot inside your local USPS retail location and request a manual postmark, OR
- If using the Post Office, get your ballot mailed at least 7 days in advance of Election Day to be postmarked in a timely manner.