USPS quietly changed when postmarks are applied to mail. It’s part of their overall “Delivering for America” plan. Instead of same day, your 1st class and similar mail might now get the postmark stamp 1 to 2 days after they took possession of the mail piece. If you want to ensure a same-day postmark, USPS recommends going to a retail counter at any USPS post office.
The processing and distribution centers that apply postmarks are staying the same. It’s the transportation time and movement methods of the mail that have changed. It appears this change will predominantly affect rural areas, which typically vote Republican. Voters should now mail ballots at least 2 days earlier than in any previous election.
A postmark is the dated imprint over a stamp to cancel its use. It serves an internal USPS function. However, for over 7 decades, postmarks have been used by administrators as evidence that a deadline was met. Postmarks have been critical for legal forms, IRS tax filings, mail-in ballots, and many other purposes.
Generally, postmarks are applied at high speeds at USPS Processing & Distribution Centers (P&DC). These are massive facilities that cover specific “regions” of the country. They have dozens of mail-processing machines, dozens of loading docks for tractor-trailers, and so on. Our United States Postal Service uses a spoke-and-hub delivery model. The local Post Offices feed mail to and from the closest hub, often called the P&DC.
Hellbound and Down 