The recording, posted on Instagram on August 31, is shared on Facebook as if it showed a man taking ballots; in Missouri, absentee voting began on September 22.
A video circulating on Facebook and Instagram shows a man handling mail in a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mailbox in Kansas City, Missouri. Posts claim he is “stealing mail-in votes” from the November 3 election. That claim does not hold up: the same video appears on Instagram dated August 31, before absentee voting began in Missouri.
What is shown and what is said
The material appears in an Instagram post dated August 31. The comments on that post discuss mail-in ballots and the Postal Service, although the post itself does not show ballots or identify the person.
On Facebook, the video is shared with captions claiming the man is taking votes and that Americans' votes are at risk. There is no statement from USPS, the Kansas City police, or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service identifying the man or describing what he was doing. As of publication, it has not been confirmed who he is or why he was opening the mailbox.
Why the date matters
According to the Missouri Secretary of State, absentee (mail-in) voting begins the sixth Tuesday before the election. For November 3, 2026, that is September 22. That is, the recording predates by more than three weeks the point at which anyone could vote by mail in the state, so it cannot show ballot theft in this election.
The official page does not list the dates for this election; they are found by applying the rule it describes.
How mail voting works in Missouri
In Missouri, absentee voting by mail requires a reason, such as being out of the county on Election Day, illness or disability, a religious belief, certain jobs, or being incarcerated without losing the right to vote. The deadline to apply by mail or fax is 5:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday before the election, which this year is October 21. Election authorities must receive all absentee ballots by the close of polls on November 3.
Applications are sent to the local election authority, not the Secretary of State, according to the Missouri Secretary of State.
What USPS says about election mail
USPS defines election mail as mail sent to or from authorized election officials, such as ballots and polling place notices. It recommends mailing ballots before Election Day and at least one week before the receipt deadline. It also allows customers to ask the clerk to hand-cancel the envelope at no cost to secure the postmark date, according to its mail voting page.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is responsible for the security of all mail, including election mail. Law enforcement matters related to election mail are reported at uspis.gov.
What does it mean to you?
- A video without a clear date, location, or source does not prove that votes are being stolen; check when it was first posted.
- If you vote by mail, send your ballot early and, if you wish, ask the clerk to hand-cancel the envelope.
- Confirm deadlines and requirements with your local election office; in the U.S., you can find it at usa.gov/election-office.
- If you believe you witnessed a mail ballot crime, report it to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
