State officials in Alaska have identified mail delivery issues as the cause for the exclusion of 75 absentee in-person ballots from rural western Alaska communities in last month's primary election. These ballots, cast by voters in seven communities including Kotzebue, Igiugig, and Naknek, arrived too late to be counted. The Alaska Division of Elections attributed the problem to a "mail delivery delay," though they did not provide specifics about the nature of the delay. Absentee in-person ballots are typically sent to regional offices—such as Nome—for review, and this issue has sparked discussions about the reliability of mail delivery in remote areas. The situation in Alaska comes amid reports from other vote-by-mail states like Washington and Oregon, where a significant increase in late-postmarked ballots was observed this year. This trend has been linked to a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rule implemented in 2021, which clarified that postmarks indicate the date the mail was handled at a processing center, not the date it was first received. The change has raised concerns among voters and election officials about the accuracy of postmark dates in determining whether ballots arrive on time. In response, Postmaster General David Steiner urged voters to cast their ballots early this year, noting that "any number of factors" can affect mail delivery times. Nikolaj Hagen, a spokesperson for the USPS, echoed this sentiment, stating that "any number of factors" can influence the timeliness of mail delivery. While the USPS declined to comment further without reviewing the specific mailpieces involved, it emphasized its commitment to working with Alaska election officials to improve communication and coordination. Meanwhile, the state allows absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day and sent from within the U.S. up to 10 days after the election. However, this grace period has not always been enough, as seen in 2022 when some rural ballots were not fully counted due to delays. Alaska's remote geography, where most communities are not connected to the state's main road system, makes air transport a critical component of mail delivery. In response to these challenges, a voting advocacy group called Get Out the Native Vote has supported a plan to reroute absentee in-person ballots from western Alaska to Anchorage, the state's largest city. Michelle Sparck, the group's director, noted that the exclusion of 75 ballots represents a "measurable loss in participation" and could exacerbate voter apathy. She emphasized that the proposed change is a practical response to the logistical challenges of rural mail delivery. Sallyann Hughes, a voter from Naknek, shared her frustration after her ballot was rejected in the primary election. She voted absentee in-person on August 5—13 days before the primary—but received a letter stating her ballot had not arrived in time. Hughes plans to take extra precautions for the November general election, including obtaining an absentee ballot electronically, printing it, securing a witness signature, and ensuring a postmark is applied in person at the post office. "I want my vote to count," she said, highlighting the importance of ensuring ballots are processed on time.