Posted on 10/17/2012 8:20:30 AM PDT by Mechanicos
Thousands of Ohio voters are voting by absentee ballot this year so they don't have to stand in line at the polls on Election Day. Ohio Boards of Elections expect at least 25 percent of all votes to come in this way.
But the U.S. Postal Service says many absentee voters are not putting enough postage on the envelope, putting their vote at risk.
Requires More Postage This Year
Because of the size of the 2012 mailer,the Hamilton County Board of Elections in Ohio say you should put 65 cents worth of postage on most absentee ballots, about 20 cents more than the standard Forever Stamp.
Making it more confusing: each county has a different absentee ballot. In a few counties, including Warren County, the required postage can be even higher. In Clermont County, which has a thinner ballot, a single stamp may be fine.
The easiest thing is to simply put two Forever Stamps on it, just to proect yourself.
Many Voters Forgetting
The U.S. Postal Service reports that many voters are forgetting to put additional postage on their mailer.
It says it is still forwarding them in most cases to the local board of elections, as returning the envelope to the sender would take weeks.
However, there is a risk with placing just one Forever Stamp on the envelope. Legally, the postal service does not have to accept it, and there is a chance it could end up in a bin with other letters that have insufficient postage.
If that were to happen, there is always a chance your vote won't count. (Snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at wcpo.com ...
In Wisconsin, my municipality pays the postage. But, I walk it in to save them the cost and to make sure that it won’t be “lost” in the mail.
That’s a poll tax! Just like with the voter ID acts! Having to pay postage to exercise a basic right indeed!
So, good.
Better to vote early in-person rather than an absentee ballot.
absentee voters are not putting enough postage on the envelope?
Must be 0bama voters.
No guarantee it ‘won't be lost’ anyhow.
I noticed that when I mailed in my ohio absentee ballot.
I don’t remember EVER having to use 2 stamps. The area by the stamp region said to use 65cents, but this could easily have been missed by a lot of people!!!!
Obama “Free Phone” lady (I use the term lady loosely):
I don’t need no postage, “Free Mail IS My Human Right”
Those ballots must be huge. I’m in PA. My ballot only required one stamp.
And mine had a spot for my return address. I expect my ballot would have been returned if the postage was insufficient.
That is true. I work at the polls. I used to work at my own poll where I could watch my absentee ballot come in, be opened, and be counted. Now I work at another poll location, so I cannot be sure that my ballot was received.
If people can't read, they shouldn't vote.
Since the Ds have an overall advantage of, as I recall, about 25,000 ballots, this is pretty good news. I don’t think Republicans have trouble mailing a letter.
this will be a landmark legal case after election day! Will make y’all forget about hanging chads!
I voted and delivered the ballot by hand to the township hall. I don’t trust the post office. They mess up deliveries too often.
For as long as I can remember, greeting card envelopes have printed that extra postage is required for their larger cards, right in the area where you affix the postage stamp.
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