Ron Wyden, Oregon’s senior U.S. senator, is questioning recent changes by the United States Postal Service that could affect how mail is collected and postmarked, warning the changes may impact tax filings and election ballots.
In a letter sent Thursday to Postmaster General David Steiner, Wyden asked a series of questions about how the new procedures could affect Americans who rely on postal postmarks to meet legal deadlines. He also asked what steps the agency is taking to inform the public and coordinate with the Internal Revenue Service and election officials.
Wyden expressed concern that delays in postmarking could cause tax returns to appear late or prevent ballots from being counted on time.
Potential impact on mail delivery
The Postal Service is planning to reorganize its mail system by creating about 60 regional processing and distribution centers, mostly located in large urban areas, including Portland, Oregon.
Under the plan, roughly 23,000 post offices nationwide will no longer have end-of-day mail collection. Instead, mail dropped off at locations more than 50 miles from a regional center may not be picked up until the next morning before being processed at the hub.
This change could extend delivery times, particularly in areas such as Salem, Oregon and Eugene, Oregon.
Because postmarks will now be applied when mail is processed at a regional center rather than when it is dropped off, the official postmark date may no longer match the day a letter was mailed.
Concerns for voters and taxpayers
Wyden said the shift could create problems for people who rely on postmarks to prove they mailed documents before a deadline.
Residents in Oregon have long depended on the postal system to submit ballots in the state’s vote-by-mail elections. Wyden warned the new system could put voters at risk of having ballots arrive too late to be counted.
The senator also noted that federal law requires the IRS to use postmarks to determine whether tax returns were submitted on time. Delays in applying those postmarks could lead to penalties for taxpayers who believe they mailed returns before the deadline.
Upcoming deadlines heighten concerns
The federal tax filing deadline is April 15, while Oregon’s primary election is scheduled for May 19.
Because of potential delays, election officials are encouraging voters to mail their ballots at least a week early or use official ballot drop boxes instead of relying on last-minute mailing.
Wyden asked the Postal Service to explain how it plans to minimize disruptions and ensure Americans are aware of the changes before important deadlines.
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