Late Mail Ballots Surge in 2025-2026 Midterms, Prompting New Drop-Box Efforts

A new analysis of mail-in voting in twelve closely contested states reveals that ballots rejected for tardiness rose sharply in the 2025 and 2026 election cycles. The study highlighted Wisconsin, where late ballots comprised roughly 78 % of all rejected votes during the spring primary, a jump from 47 % in the 2023 cycle, and Michigan, which discarded more than 10,000 ballots for missing the 8 p.m. deadline, almost twice the number rejected in 2024.

Officials in Colorado responded by increasing the number of ballot drop boxes by 78 % since 2018 to encourage earlier mailing. Secretary of State Jena Griswold noted that recent legislative changes and the rollout of additional drop boxes aim to counteract uncertainty linked to federal criticism of the Postal Service. The Postal Service defended its performance, claiming over 95 % of ballots arrived on time and urging voters to mail early. The report also references ongoing political pressure from President Donald Trump, whose administration recently secured a Supreme Court order allowing Postmaster General David Steiner to oversee mail-in voting processes.