February 3, 2026 – With early voting set to begin for the March 17, 2026 General Primary, election officials are reminding voters of important information regarding Vote By Mail ballots and recent clarification from the United States Postal Service (USPS).
USPS recently announced that, under its nationwide “Delivering for America” operational plan, the date printed on a mail piece’s postmark may reflect when the item is first processed at a USPS facility, rather than the date it was deposited in a mailbox. This clarification may impact how Vote By Mail ballots are postmarked.
Vote By Mail ballots for the March 17 General Primary will be mailed to voters beginning Feb. 5. To ensure ballots are counted, voters have several options for returning them to the Macon County Clerk’s Office.
Voters may deposit their ballot in the secure drop box located on the south side of the Macon County Office Building at 141 S. Main Street in Decatur. The drop box will be available 24 hours a day starting Feb. 5 and will close at 7 p.m. on Election Day, March 17.
Ballots may also be hand-delivered to the Macon County Early Voting Center at 151 W. Wood Street during early voting hours.
Voters choosing to return their ballot by mail are encouraged to do so as early as possible. Election officials note that voters mailing their ballot within one week of Election Day — March 11 through March 17 — may wish to request a manual postmark at a USPS retail counter rather than placing the ballot in a mailbox.
All Vote By Mail ballots must be postmarked no later than March 17, Election Day, and received by the Macon County Clerk’s Office by March 31, 2026, in order to be counted.
Election officials say Vote By Mail offers convenience and flexibility but requires voters to take steps to ensure ballots are returned properly and on time.
