Two memos provide instruction on extraordinary measures and postmarking
USPS 10/14/26 – The Postal Service has issued guidance to all employees to ensure the proper handling and timely delivery of Election Mail.
The organization recently published two employee memorandums outlining practices and policies to be followed.
The documents — 2026 General Election Extraordinary Measures Memorandum and 2026 Guidance on Postmarking Ballots Memorandum — were distributed Oct. 1.
The two memos provide updated information about the Postal Service’s longstanding policies about the proper handling of Election Mail and reference other guidance distributed throughout the year.
The postmarking memo describes practices in place during the entire election cycle. The extraordinary measures memo outlines specific actions to be undertaken in support of Election Mail
operations from Oct. 24 through Election Day, Nov. 3. The memorandum includes appendices providing specific instruction for Retail and Delivery, Processing and Distribution, and Logistics operations.
The two memos can be found on the Election and Government Mail Services page on Blue and can also be found at usps.com/electionmail.
USPS has also distributed employee stand-up talks about handling Election Mail and Political Mail with integrity.
Additional Election Mail information is available in the 2026 Election and Political Mail Guide in the Oct. 1 edition of Postal Bulletin.
You know it’s bad when the USPS instructs employees to handle election mail “with integrity.” This illustrates how much damage hiring practices have caused. Every piece, whether it’s bulk or first class, is supposed to be handled with integrity, and it didn’t used to be something that had to be told. Unfortunately, those days are over. Circs seem to be problematic for some carriers, who prescribe to the “no mail no circs” mode of delivery. The only place where volume isn’t down is the UBBM container. All management cares about is work hours.