Is There a Delay in USPS Mail Delivery Around Presidential Elections?

As every presidential election approaches, the anticipation and participation levels rise significantly. Among the many aspects of the electoral process that come under scrutiny, the United States Postal Service (USPS) often finds itself at the center of discussions, especially regarding mail delivery delays. But is there a delay in USPS mail delivery around presidential elections?

Before diving into the USPS mail delivery during presidential elections, let’s first distinguish between election mail and political mail. Election mail refers to any mail related to the voting process, such as ballots, voter registration forms, and polling place notifications.  This mail receives priority from the post office and will always be delivered like first-class mail.  Political mail, on the other hand, includes materials sent by political candidates, parties, or advocacy groups, such as campaign advertisements, solicitations for donations, and issue-based communications. Both types of mail see significant increases during election periods, contributing to the USPS’s heightened workload.  Political mail often mails third class – or as marketing mail – just like most nonprofit mail.

Let’s start by looking at the potential factors affecting the mail during a presidential election period.

Contributing Factors

1. Increased Volume of Mail: During presidential elections, the volume of mail handled by USPS increases dramatically. This surge includes not only ballots but also election-related materials such as voter information pamphlets, registration forms, and political campaign mailers.
2. Operational Challenges: The USPS has faced several operational challenges in recent years, including budget constraints, staffing shortages, and aging infrastructure. These issues can exacerbate delays, especially when compounded by the surge in election-related mail.  However, the USPS has agreed to put some changes on hold to ensure that the election process is not disrupted.  This is good news for mailers who have seen delays due to recent changes in some markets – like Atlanta.
3. Policy Changes and Controversies: Policy changes within the USPS, such as adjustments to delivery standards or operational practices, can also impact mail delivery times. For instance, the removal of mail sorting machines and changes to overtime policies have sparked concerns about the USPS’s ability to handle the increased load efficiently.   
4. Impact of Political Mail: Political campaigns heavily utilize USPS services to reach voters, sending out millions of pieces of political mail. This influx can significantly increase mail volume, contributing to delays. During the 2020 election, for example, political mail volume surged, adding to the USPS’s already heavy workload. The sheer volume of political mail, combined with other election-related mail, could overwhelm the system, leading to delays in delivery times.

If we look back over the last 3 presidential elections, we can see that PS’s mail – while affected by an overall decline in mail delivery times – was fairly consistent until the pandemic.  This did put a strain on the delivery dates and we saw a slowdown in 2020.

Historical Perspective: Mail Delays in Previous Presidential Elections

• 2012 Presidential Election:
  • During the 2012 election, the USPS managed to maintain relatively stable mail delivery times despite the increased volume of election and political mail. Reports indicated that while there were localized delays, the overall system handled the surge effectively without significant nationwide issues.
  • PS showed the following delivery averages in the months preceding the election:

• 2016 Presidential Election:
  • The 2016 election saw a higher volume of mail-in ballots compared to 2012. While the USPS faced operational challenges, the impact on delivery times was not as pronounced as in 2020. The on-time delivery rates remained relatively high, although there were concerns about the capacity to handle the growing trend of mail-in voting.
  • PS showed the following delivery averages in the months preceding the election:

• 2020 Presidential Election:
  • The 2020 election was unprecedented due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly increased the volume of mail-in ballots. Combined with the surge in political mail, the USPS experienced notable delays. The on-time delivery rate for First-Class Mail dropped, and the average processing time for ballots increased compared to previous years, highlighting the strain on the postal system.
  • PS showed the following delivery averages in the months preceding the election:

• Fall 2023:
  • For comparison’s sake, here are the PS mail delivery stats for the fall of 2023 – you can see these are more in line with the dates around the 2016 election.  This points to the pandemic being a contributing factor in the 2020 election slowdown.

All of this data leads us to the big question – is there a delay in presidential election year mail?  Not overall.  But that doesn’t mean that you should not have a plan for your mailings around this time.  There are 2 options for you to consider:

• Plan for an increased volume of mail in donors’ mailboxes and make a plan to stand out against the political mail.   Since a majority of political candidates are mailing postcards and self-mailers of various sizes, make sure your envelope is going to attract attention.
• Or you can move your mail date to avoid being in-home the week prior to and the week of the election.

Be sure to reach out to your PS contact for any questions or concerns. We are always here to help make a plan to optimize your program.