The United States Postal Service has introduced a new regulation urging individuals to send important mail earlier than usual.
This rule, which formally defines "postmarking," is crucial for deadlines related to significant mail items such as bills and ballots.
According to The Hill, many states mandate that mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day to be counted, and similarly, bill payments often require a postmark by a specific date to avoid being considered late.
Contrary to popular belief, the date a piece of mail is dropped off does not guarantee it will be postmarked on the same day. The Postal Service clarifies, while the presence of a postmark on a mailpiece confirms that the Postal Service was in possession of the mailpiece on the date of the postmarks inscription, the postmark date does not inherently or necessarily align with the date on which the Postal Service first accepted possession of the mailpiece.
This discrepancy is expected to increase as the USPS implements the "Delivering for America" plan, which aims to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
The Postal Service acknowledges that some mail and packages might not reach processing machines until the day after collection. To ensure a postmark aligns with the drop-off date, the USPS recommends visiting a post office counter to request a manual postmark. This proactive approach is essential for those who rely on timely mail processing, especially in a system undergoing significant operational changes.
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