Rejected mail ballots increased in Washington and Oregon after the United States Postal Service changed the rules for postmarking.

The new rule led to additional ballots being discounted because of postmarks deemed late.

Lawmakers said that, in several Washington counties, the number of rejected ballots more than doubled following the change.

The increase was linked to the Postal Service's adjustment to how it postmarks mail, with consequences for voters who mailed ballots on or before the deadline.