Estimate: Mail Delays Could Keep 43,000 to 55,000 Votes From Counting

Brookings Institution senior fellow Elena Patel estimated a mail plan slowing delivery could cause 43,000 to 55,000 more votes to arrive too late to count in the general election, NPR reported Oct. 9. The plan was not in place for 2026 primaries, early votes, which had more rejections, including jumps in votes mailed too late in Washington and Oregon.