A recent clarification from the U.S. Postal Service is prompting renewed attention to how postmarks are applied to mail — an issue with implications not only for voters, but also for anyone sending time-sensitive items such as bill payments, tax documents or legal filings.

According to CNN reporting, USPS has clarified that a postmark may not reflect the date a piece of mail was dropped in a mailbox or handed to a local post office. Instead, the postmark can reflect when the item is first processed by automated sorting equipment at a regional mail facility — a step that can occur days later.

That distinction could matter for deadlines tied to postmarks, including late fees or penalties for payments that arrive or are stamped after a due date.

The Postal Service says the clarification does not represent a change in how postmarks are applied, but rather an explanation of what a postmark actually signifies as the agency continues broader operational changes. Those changes include consolidating processing operations and reducing the number of daily trips between local post offices and regional mail hubs.

For Alabama residents, geography plays a role. Large portions of the state are rural and located far from central mail-processing hubs, which can slow delivery and delay when mail is processed and postmarked. That reality has raised concerns about timing for mail that is sent close to a deadline.

In states that rely on postmarks to determine whether mail ballots were submitted on time, the clarification has drawn particular scrutiny. Alabama’s election rules, however, operate differently — a distinction that is important for voters to understand.

Alabama does not use postmarks to determine whether an absentee ballot is valid.

Under state law and guidance from the Alabama Secretary of State’s office, absentee ballots must be received by county election officials by noon on Election Day to be counted. Ballots that arrive after that deadline are not counted, regardless of when they were mailed or postmarked.

Because Alabama relies on a receipt deadline, the USPS postmark clarification does not directly affect how absentee ballots are evaluated in the state. The rule for Alabama voters remains unchanged: ballots must arrive on time.

Alabama also does not allow no-excuse mail voting. Voters must qualify under one of the state’s approved absentee voting reasons and must follow strict affidavit, signature and witness or notarization requirements.

Election and postal officials recommend several steps to avoid problems:

• Mail absentee ballots well in advance of Election Day.
• Do not rely on a postmark as proof a ballot will be counted in Alabama.
• If time is short, voters may hand-deliver absentee ballots to their county election office before the deadline, following state rules.
• USPS notes that customers who want confirmation of mailing dates may request a manual postmark at a post office counter or use certified mail, though those options do not extend Alabama’s receipt deadline.

For Alabama voters, the takeaway remains straightforward: when it comes to absentee ballots — and other time-sensitive mail — earlier is safer.

 Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].