# Record Number of Mail Ballots Rejected in California Late deliveries led to 150,000 ballots being invalidated in the June elections. - **Source:** [Fortune](https://fortune.com) - **Published:** 2026-07-24 - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/cd64586e-444e-4a65-81e7-11d8b3fdacca ## Record High Rejection Rate for Mail Ballots Nearly 150,000 mail ballots were rejected in California's June 2024 primary election, marking the highest rejection rate in recent years. Despite efforts to increase voter participation, late deliveries remain a significant issue. ## Impact of Late Deliveries A large portion of the rejected ballots were those postmarked after Election Day. Changes in the US Postal Service have affected the timing of postmarks, causing delays in ballot delivery. ## Voters' Last-Minute Decisions Kim Alexander, president of the California Voter Foundation, noted that many voters waited until the final days to decide in the gubernatorial race. This led to late deliveries and subsequent rejections. ## Postal Service Policies Updated USPS policies regarding postmarks have delayed the processing of ballots. This issue particularly affects remote communities, where ballots may not arrive on time. ## Regional Rejection Rates In California's June election, the highest mail ballot rejection rate was 3.52% in Tulare County. Alpine and Merced Counties also recorded similarly high rejection rates. ## Election Security and the Future The rejection rates for mail ballots highlight the need for improvements in election processes. However, it's important to note that cases of mail ballot fraud remain extremely rare. ## Sources covering this story - https://fortune.com/2026/07/24/california-mail-ballot-rejections-postmark/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._