Thousands of San Francisco vote-by-mail packets arrived this week with long tears in their outer mailing envelopes, prompting questions from voters about possible tampering. The city’s Department of Elections said the damage came from machines used to pack the mail, not interference with ballots. The department began hearing reports on Monday, Director John Arntz said. After contacting the U.S. Postal Service, election officials determined that the packing equipment had torn the outer envelopes. USPS has switched to packing the packets manually, according to the city’s Oct. 7 release. The department said voters can still use their packets if all four ballot cards and the ballot return envelope inside are intact. The tears affected only the outer mailing envelope, officials said, and thousands of ballots have since been returned. Election officials said they are coordinating with USPS and monitoring additional ballot mailings. Voters must return ballots by Election Day, Nov. 3, either by mail or at a ballot drop box. The city’s guidance comes as San Francisco voters prepare for the November 3, 2026, consolidated general election. Voters who find damage to any of the ballot cards or the return envelope should contact the Department of Elections for assistance.