The United States Postal Service warned 46 states and the District of Columbia in late July that some mail-in ballots might not be received in time for counting.
Each of these states received warning letters from the USPS, which the Washington Post obtained via a public records request.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, more voters are expected to use mail-in voting than ever before, and the USPS said it might be overwhelmed by the demand. A few states have moved deadlines to account for ballots that come in after Election Day, but others cannot, or will not, do the same.
[Related: Democratic leaders condemn Trump ‘assault’ on Postal Service]
The Postal Service is facing financial disaster, but President Trump has said he opposes providing it with emergency assistance.
“The Postal Service is asking election officials and voters to realistically consider how the mail works,” Martha Johnson, a spokeswoman for the USPS, said in a statement.
