Following Calls from NH Delegation, USPS Confirms that it Will Process New Hampshire Election Mail Locally in Effort to Ensure Timely Delivery of Ballots

 WASHINGTON – Following calls led by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01), the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) Northern New England District confirmed that New Hampshire ballots that are received locally will now be delivered directly to the local clerk’s office in order to ensure the timely delivery of ballots. Prior to this announcement, the Postal Service required that ballots returned by voters in New Hampshire be routed to processing facilities in Manchester, NH or White River Junction, VT, which can unnecessarily delay the delivery of ballots.

“With one week before Election Day, we must ensure that every single ballot is counted in a timely fashion, and we are grateful that the Postal Service heeded our calls to process ballots locally from now until November 3,” said the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation in a joint statement, “While this is an important step, all voters should still be sure to mail their absentee ballots or drop them off at their local clerk’s office as quickly as possible to help ensure that that all ballots are received on time.”

The Postal Service’s announcement comes after the Delegation sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy last week calling on him to allow election mail to be processed locally in the days leading up to the election rather than being routed to a processing center. The Postal Service also confirmed it will make extra efforts to check the mailboxes of all Granite Staters to ensure that every ballot is received by the Postal Service and delivered to the local clerk’s office.