Hansi Lo Wong

If you've already registered to vote, you may want to check your status on your state election official's website.

Eligible voters can sometimes be removed from lists, especially if they move, change their name, or haven't voted in a while.

Hansi Lewong, NPR News.

Dropping off your federal income tax return at a mailbox or with a letter carrier today may not be enough to file your taxes on time.

That's because the IRS requires the envelope to have a postmark date that's on or before the filing deadline.

The U.S.

Postal Service usually automatically stamps postmarks on envelopes when it processes mail that's dropped off.

But exactly when that processing happens has become more complicated in more parts of the country.

That's because USPS has cut back how often it picks up mail in certain areas as part of its reorganization.

That means some first-class mail dropped off today may not get postmarked until tomorrow.

And that could lead to the IRS applying late filing or late payment penalties.

To make sure your tax return gets a postmark for today, USPS recommends going to a post office and asking for a free manual postmark at the counter.

Hansi Lewong, NPR News.

The IRS says it considers a mail tax return to be filed on time if it has the right address, enough postage, and a postmark date that's on or before the filing deadline.

The U.S.

Postal Service usually automatically stamps postmarks when it processes mail that's dropped off.

But exactly when that processing happens has become more complicated in more parts of the country.

As part of the Postal Service's reorganization, USPS has cut back how often it picks up mail in certain areas more than 50 miles from one of its regional processing centers.

That means some first-class mail may not get postmarked until the day after it's collected.

To make sure your tax return gets a postmark on the same day you mail it, USPS recommends going to a post office and asking for a free manual postmark at the counter.