Kansas election law and USPS changes means voters have less time to mail ballots in 2026
Kansas voters will have less time to return mail ballots in 2026 after state lawmakers eliminated a three-day grace period and the U.S. Postal Service changed how it postmarks mail.
Previously, Kansas voters had until three days after Election Day for their mail ballots to arrive at election offices. Now, ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day to count.
In December, USPS announced that in 2026 it will postmark mail when it's processed at regional facilities rather than when it's dropped off. This processing delay could take several days, meaning a ballot mailed on time could still arrive too late to count.
We spoke to lawmakers and advocates in Kansas when the law was passed in March 2025.
https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/kansas-election-law-and-usps-changes-means-voters-have-less-time-to-mail-ballots-in-2026