Vote-by-Mail Window May Be Closed, Advocates Say, Urging Drop-Offs

Advocates suggest dropping off ballots in person instead
On-time delivery dropped this month according to USPS

A voter casts their early voting ballot at drop box outside of City Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 17.Photographer: Mark Makela/Getty Images

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By Todd Shields and Erik Larson

October 26, 2020 at 4:27 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Delivery by the U.S. Postal Service remains slow despite the intervention of federal judges and some voting advocates say ballots not in the mail now may not arrive in time to be counted and should instead be dropped off at voting facilities.

The persistent delays include poor on-time statistics in Philadelphia and Detroit -- cities in states considered crucial to the Nov. 3 contest. Late ballots face disqualification.