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Election officials are raising concerns about the growing number of mail-in ballots reaching election offices after state deadlines, with recent primary results showing a sharp increase in late-ballot rejections as the November midterm elections approach.

Data obtained by The New York Times from 12 states found that ballots arriving too late to be counted represented an increasing portion of rejected mail votes during recent primary elections.

Several of the states included in the data are home to closely contested congressional and statewide races that could play a role in determining which party controls Congress following the November elections.

In Wisconsin, approximately 5,000 mail ballots arrived too late to be counted during the state’s spring primary. Those ballots represented 78% of all rejected mail-in votes.

The numbers marked a significant increase from the comparable 2023 election, when approximately 2,300 late-arriving ballots were rejected, accounting for 47% of discarded mail votes.

Michigan experienced a similar increase during its August primary. More than 10,000 mail ballots arrived after the state’s 8 p.m. Election Day cutoff and were rejected, nearly double the number discarded for arriving late in 2024.

Washington state, meanwhile, recorded more than 20,000 ballots that arrived after the applicable deadline, compared with approximately 16,000 during the comparable previous period.

The U.S. Postal Service says it generally delivers more than 95% of mail ballots on time. Nevertheless, concerns about ballot delivery have increased amid financial pressures, operational changes and reports of slower service in certain parts of the country. The issue is particularly significant in states requiring election officials to receive ballots by Election Day.

“There are any number of factors that may impact the timeliness of a returned ballot,” the Postal Service said in a statement. “As such, our consistent message to voters who choose to vote by mail is to mail early.”

Adding to the concerns is a USPS policy that went into effect in December clarifying how postmarks are assigned. Under the policy, a postmark may indicate the date a piece of mail reaches a processing facility rather than the date a voter actually deposited it in a mailbox.

Election specialists have warned that the difference could become important for ballots sent shortly before Election Day, particularly for voters in rural areas located far from regional postal processing facilities.

Fourteen states currently permit ballots postmarked by Election Day to be received and counted after Election Day. In June, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that federal law does not bar states from providing those post-election grace periods, leaving the policies in place ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms.

Another legal battle centers on an executive order issued by President Donald Trump and a Postal Service regulation requiring states to turn over certain voter information and comply with federal standards governing ballot envelopes.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani temporarily halted the rule Thursday, concluding that states were likely to suffer irreparable harm from requirements that would be practically impossible to put into effect before the midterm elections. A hearing on the dispute is scheduled for Sept. 3, while the administration is appealing the ruling.

Election officials in several states are taking additional steps aimed at reducing the likelihood that mail ballots will arrive too late. Colorado, for example, has expanded the number of ballot drop boxes in the state by 78% since 2018.

Wisconsin officials are similarly advising voters who are concerned about postal delivery times to use ballot drop boxes where available, cast their ballots early or place mail ballots into the postal system well ahead of Election Day.

Washington elections director Stuart Holmes said the concerns are not directed at individual postal workers, but at the reliability of the broader delivery system.

“The Postal Service, these are great people, hard-working people,” Holmes said. “But their operation has become unreliable.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

It was a beautiful summer afternoon several weeks ago when I took a walk with my children through southern Crown Heights. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, and the neighborhood was peaceful.

Then, as we approached the intersection of Clarkson Avenue and Albany Avenue, that tranquility was suddenly shattered by the deafening sounds of heavy construction. The noise was impossible to ignore. I looked toward the construction site and was stunned by the sheer scale of what was being built.

I later began researching the project at 681 Clarkson Avenue and was deeply troubled by what I learned. The massive development is slated to contain 1,081 units, including supportive housing intended to serve people struggling with mental illness, substance abuse and homelessness.

Whatever one’s views on the need to provide services and housing for vulnerable New Yorkers, a project of this extraordinary size raises serious questions for the surrounding community. What will be the impact of concentrating such a large supportive-housing population in one location? What safeguards will be put in place? What additional policing, sanitation, medical services and other resources will be provided? And what has been done to ensure that the surrounding families and residents will not bear the consequences of decisions made without adequate community input?

As a parent raising children here, these questions concern me deeply.

Crown Heights is our home. Families have invested their lives in this neighborhood. Children walk these streets to school and shul. Residents deserve to know what such an enormous project will mean for public safety, quality of life and the future character of the community.

And 681 Clarkson Avenue does not exist in a vacuum. Residents are already watching additional homeless and supportive-housing facilities expand in and around the neighborhood. At the same time, new bike lanes and other street changes are eliminating badly needed parking, while the anticipated Albany Avenue MTA bus route threatens to place still more pressure on streets already struggling to accommodate residents, businesses and traffic.

At some point, residents have a right to ask: How much can one neighborhood reasonably be expected to absorb?

Perhaps most disturbing has been the relative silence surrounding these changes. Where is the public discussion? Where are the community meetings? Where are our elected officials and local leaders demanding answers about the cumulative effect these projects will have on Crown Heights?

This is not an argument that people struggling with homelessness, addiction or mental illness should be abandoned. They need help, treatment and appropriate housing. But compassion does not require concentrating enormous numbers of vulnerable individuals in one neighborhood without addressing the legitimate concerns of the families already living there.

The construction is moving forward. The changes to our streets are moving forward. Once these decisions are implemented, reversing them may be exceedingly difficult.

Crown Heights residents therefore need to start asking questions now — loudly, respectfully and persistently. Our elected officials and community leaders should tell us exactly what is planned, what protections are being put into place, and why so much is being concentrated in this particular area.

Silence is not a plan for the future of Crown Heights.

A Concerned Resident

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With Tishrei approaching, thousands of travelers will be making their way to and from Israel for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkos. Chaim V’Chessed offers the following important reminders to help ensure a smooth journey.

Travelers Insurance

Every holiday season,  Chaim V’Chessed  is contacted by travelers to or from Israel, who encounter a medical crisis and discover that they do not have sufficient medical insurance.

It cannot be emphasized enough that both Israelis traveling abroad and visitors to Israel must obtain appropriate travelers insurance before traveling.

Customs

Travelers entering Israel should be aware of customs regulations. The duty-free allowance for gifts is $200 per person. Items exceeding the allowance should be declared.

Jewelry and other valuables should never be brought into Israel in their original store packaging. New jewelry in boxes, especially multiple pieces, may appear to Customs officials to be newly purchased merchandise intended for resale, potentially resulting in customs charges and even suspicion of smuggling. Jewelry intended for personal use should be removed from its packaging and brought as a personal item.

Travelers leaving Israel with expensive jewelry, watches, electronics or other valuables that they intend to bring back should consider declaring these items to Customs before departure.

Bringing Food into Israel

Food imports are subject to restrictions. As a general rule, travelers may bring up to 3 kg of food, with no more than 1 kg of any one type. Raw meat may not be brought into Israel.

Arba Minim

Those traveling to Israel for Sukkos with Arba Minim should be aware of Israel’s agricultural import regulations.

As in previous years, one esrog may be brought into Israel for personal use. Lulavim, hadassim and aravos may not be brought into Israel and may be confiscated at the airport.

Travelers whose lulav, hadassim or aravos are confiscated will be provided with replacement Arba Minim through arrangements made by the Ministry of Agriculture.

ETA-IL

Passengers en route to Israel must obtain an ETA-IL before traveling. Travelers should apply only through the official government website, at this link. Beware of unofficial sites which charge additional fees.

Israeli citizens traveling on an Israeli passport do not require an ETA-IL. Additionally, Israeli citizens are currently permitted to enter Israel using a foreign passport, if they hold one. While technically they are exempt from the ETA-IL requirement, Chaim V’Chessed that they obtain one regardless. The same applies to student visa holders.

Check Your Passport

Before heading to the airport, check the validity of every passport in the family and make sure all travelers meet the entry requirements for their destination.

Foreigners traveling to Israel must have at least three months of validity on their passports to enter the country.

Safe Travels!

Whether you are traveling for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur or Sukkos, a few minutes of preparation can prevent significant problems during your trip. Ksiva v’Chasima Tova!

{Matzav.com}