A universal postal code system in which mail piece delivery address information is associated with a universal postal code affixed to a mail piece. As part of the association process, the delivery address information can be verified and formatted according to postal authority standards to help ensure reliable and efficient delivery. The universal postal codes are reusable after completion of delivery by reassigning a universal postal code to a new recipient. The universal postal codes permit mailing of a mail piece without having any human readable delivery or return address information visible on the mail piece. Universal postal codes can be used for military mail systems and systems requiring anonymous mailing. Universal postal codes can also be used for automatic tabulation of votes while maintaining voter anonymity. Universal postal codes can be used for mail delivery between different countries such that a sender in one country need not be familiar with the address conventions of another country, and can electronically associate a universal postal code with a recipient in the other country without a need for the sender to write or even recognize the recipient's address as written in a language used in the other country.