Mail ballot rejections rose in Washington and Oregon following 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 after the change.

The increase was linked to the Postal Service's adjustment to the way it postmarks mail, affecting voters who sent ballots on or before the deadline.