Mail In Ballots and the Upcoming Election

[Deleted]

Aug 14, 2020 17:15:32 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Aug 14, 2020 17:06:13 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

So what do you all think about the news/articles saying Trump admitted that he’s withholding money from the USPS because they need money to be able to handle the volume from mail in voting? He supposedly said that during an interview on Fox Business I think, Thursday evening.

And Yahoo News had an article saying that postal employees are sounding the alarms about mail sorting machines being removed from facilities. I didn’t actually read that article because I was at work when I came across it and didn’t have time, but countrygirl2 mentioned the machines being removed in another thread, so maybe she has a better source.

I’ve only ever voted in person, so I don’t know what measures are put in place to protect the integrity of voting by mail. Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I feel that the signs are pointing toward there being some fuckery in the making regarding the coming Presidential election.

PC-there are several posters who live in states where mail-in is the only wat to vote. None of them have ever stated it is a bad way to vote or their states have had problems. dondub , tallguy , and I believe billisonboard live in states with mail-in voting. They might be able to offer you some assurance mail-in voting is okay and safe.

Under normal circumstances, I do believe that it is safe. My concern is with what’s happening with the postal service now, in the months leading up to the election.

If people are reporting now that they are receiving their mail weeks after it should have been delivered, and going days without receiving any mail at all, what happens when the volume is increased due to mail in ballots? Will those issues be corrected by then so that everyone’s vote is counted appropriately?

[Deleted]

We've been eligible to vote by mail for several years now due to age and have taken advantage of it, but we have made a very personal decision to vote in person this year for a number of reasons.  Long before the new Postmaster General, our mail sucked locally.  My bank statement is MIA this month; some of you listened to me vent a few weeks back about our RX's being mis-delivered so our provider now requires me to pick them up in person.  

Add on the occupant of the WH doing everything within his power to eff up the postal service, and you have our decision.  Plus every effort is being made locally to suppress the vote by reducing polling locations, hours of access, etc. 

We haven't had our hair cut since March, I haven't had a mani-pedi since March, we've only eaten a sit-down meal twice since March.  But we will vote IN PERSON this time because I'll be damned if our voice is silenced.  My mother paid a $3.00 poll tax to vote back in the early 50's which was an amazing amount of money then for an impoverished household.  And we paid the price by eating crap and little of that for weeks.  So, I'm paying it back to her and my former self.  

[TheOtherMe]

The answer to your question is unknown.

The states that are mail only voting have drop boxes where people can take their ballots.

I believe I will be able to drop my ballot off at a drop box at the courthouse, which is what I plan to do.

[tallguy]

Aug 14, 2020 18:02:11 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

Aug 14, 2020 17:15:32 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

PC-there are several posters who live in states where mail-in is the only wat to vote. None of them have ever stated it is a bad way to vote or their states have had problems. dondub , tallguy , and I believe billisonboard live in states with mail-in voting. They might be able to offer you some assurance mail-in voting is okay and safe.

Under normal circumstances, I do believe that it is safe. My concern is with what’s happening with the postal service now, in the months leading up to the election.

If people are reporting now that they are receiving their mail weeks after it should have been delivered, and going days without receiving any mail at all, what happens when the volume is increased due to mail in ballots? Will those issues be corrected by then so that everyone’s vote is counted appropriately?

Another option around here for those who are really concerned is ballot drop boxes.  As listed in my County Voter's Guide, there are 24 locations of drop boxes in Seattle, with another 45 in other cities or towns in the county.  Rural counties may have more of an issue, but voters in a town or city should usually be able to find a drop box not too far out of the way, once they receive their ballot.  Guarantees it will be picked up on time and processed.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Aug 14, 2020 18:02:11 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

Aug 14, 2020 17:15:32 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

PC-there are several posters who live in states where mail-in is the only wat to vote. None of them have ever stated it is a bad way to vote or their states have had problems. dondub , tallguy , and I believe billisonboard live in states with mail-in voting. They might be able to offer you some assurance mail-in voting is okay and safe.

Under normal circumstances, I do believe that it is safe. My concern is with what’s happening with the postal service now, in the months leading up to the election.

If people are reporting now that they are receiving their mail weeks after it should have been delivered, and going days without receiving any mail at all, what happens when the volume is increased due to mail in ballots? Will those issues be corrected by then so that everyone’s vote is counted appropriately?

PC....we normally receive our ballots about 3 weeks before Election Day (I live in a mail vote only state too).  We normally do not mail our ballots in, but drop them off in the ballot box near the courthouse.  I am not sure when the ballot box shows up, but it shows up at least a week before Election Day.....so not all ballots are mailed in.   And because we have 3 weeks to get them in, they could be mailed at any time.  

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Trump has admitted he wants to stop mail in voting. He appointed this postmaster general who owns much stock in Amazon and other mail contractors. Conflict of interests. He has shut down 671 high speed mail sorter machines and eliminated overtime. We have a big sorting facility here that now stops at the end of the day without finishing the daily sort. The board, not the dems, has asked for money which trump is withholding. BTW the board was appointed by trump. This voter manipulating by trump must be stopped.

[Deleted]

Aug 14, 2020 18:29:18 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

Trump has admitted he wants to stop mail in voting. He appointed this postmaster general who owns much stock in Amazon and other mail contractors. Conflict of interests. He has shut down 671 high speed mail sorter machines and eliminated overtime. We have a big sorting facility here that now stops at the end of the day without finishing the daily sort. The board, not the dems, has asked for money which trump is withholding. BTW the board was appointed by trump. This voter manipulating by trump must be stopped.

Anonymous yesterday called for a general strike in America over this issue.

There are many, many calls for people to go into the streets over this issue. 

I think this will make BLM look like children out for a walk.

This shit ISN'T okay. AT ALL. 

Where I live, everything comes via USPS including ALL Amazon packages. 

[Deleted]

Aug 14, 2020 18:29:18 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

Trump has admitted he wants to stop mail in voting. He appointed this postmaster general who owns much stock in Amazon and other mail contractors. Conflict of interests. He has shut down 671 high speed mail sorter machines and eliminated overtime. We have a big sorting facility here that now stops at the end of the day without finishing the daily sort. The board, not the dems, has asked for money which trump is withholding. BTW the board was appointed by trump. This voter manipulating by trump must be stopped.

I’m quoting this because I could only “like” it once. This is what I want people to pay attention to.

If we already have facilities running 2 weeks behind, as DBF was told when he inquired about his package, will ballots that are mailed to recipients 3 weeks ahead of time in a couple of months, be delivered on time even if they are mailed back  the day after they are received?

[ken a.k.a OMK]

The point is trump is illegally interfering with voting. Withholding funding and using scare tactics. He has often said he has ultimate authority. Time to wake up America. 

[Deleted]

Aug 14, 2020 18:10:49 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Aug 14, 2020 18:02:11 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

Under normal circumstances, I do believe that it is safe. My concern is with what’s happening with the postal service now, in the months leading up to the election.

If people are reporting now that they are receiving their mail weeks after it should have been delivered, and going days without receiving any mail at all, what happens when the volume is increased due to mail in ballots? Will those issues be corrected by then so that everyone’s vote is counted appropriately?

Another option around here for those who are really concerned is ballot drop boxes.  As listed in my County Voter's Guide, there are 24 locations of drop boxes in Seattle, with another 45 in other cities or towns in the county.  Rural counties may have more of an issue, but voters in a town or city should usually be able to find a drop box not too far out of the way, once they receive their ballot.  Guarantees it will be picked up on time and processed.

Harris County, with a population over 4 million, had 11 (yes, only eleven) drop off locations on election day during our July runoff's.  Not during early balloting.  And they are not outside; they require going into a courthouse and standing indoors to drop off the ballot.  There is a slim possibility the option will be extended during early voting period in October, but in a red state, I doubt it.  

[tallguy]

Aug 14, 2020 19:57:24 GMT -5 @donethat said:

Aug 14, 2020 18:10:49 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Another option around here for those who are really concerned is ballot drop boxes.  As listed in my County Voter's Guide, there are 24 locations of drop boxes in Seattle, with another 45 in other cities or towns in the county.  Rural counties may have more of an issue, but voters in a town or city should usually be able to find a drop box not too far out of the way, once they receive their ballot.  Guarantees it will be picked up on time and processed.

Harris County, with a population over 4 million, had 11 (yes, only eleven) drop off locations on election day during our July runoff's.  Not during early balloting.  And they are not outside; they require going into a courthouse and standing indoors to drop off the ballot.  There is a slim possibility the option will be extended during early voting period in October, but in a red state, I doubt it.  

Yeah,  it seems that people in red states are just screwed all the way around on both individual liberties and government services.  I'm guessing the biggest reason they put up with it is that they don't know any better.  They've never had stuff so don't realize they should miss it.  (Either that, or they are too poor to pay anything for it.)  Voting is such a simple matter.  Vote by mail is much easier, much less expensive, and gets a bigger response than in-person voting.  But again, Republicans are mostly concerned with decreasing turnout.  That is why voting is an all-day ordeal in some places, and generally in areas that favor Democrats.

[jerseygirl]

Aug 14, 2020 20:13:12 GMT -5 tallguy said:

[ But again, Republicans are mostly concerned with decreasing turnout.  That is why voting is an all-day ordeal in some places, and generally in areas that favor Democrats.

[

Curious, why in an area that favors Democrats are there few polling places? Aren’t these areas under Democratic control? If under Democratic control don’t the Dems control numbers of polling places?
I’ve seen on tv long lines if people waiting to vote but seem to remember this in cities. Would appreciate if you could cite some of these places and what parties are government in

In NJ governor announced today ballots would be sent to all registered voters. If you want to vote in person you will get a provisional ballot (cause you might have already mailed ballot)

[Gardening Grandma]

Aug 14, 2020 20:29:35 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Aug 14, 2020 20:13:12 GMT -5 tallguy said:

[ But again, Republicans are mostly concerned with decreasing turnout.  That is why voting is an all-day ordeal in some places, and generally in areas that favor Democrats.

[

Curious, why in an area that favors Democrats are there few polling places? Aren’t these areas under Democratic control? If under Democratic control don’t the Dems control numbers of polling places?
I’ve seen on tv long lines if people waiting to vote but seem to remember this in cities. Would appreciate if you could cite some of these places and what parties are government in

In NJ governor announced today ballots would be sent to all registered voters. If you want to vote in person you will get a provisional ballot (cause you might have already mailed ballot)

I live in WA state (a proud blue state). ALL our voting is by mail and has been for years.
If my ballot doesn’t get to me in time because of tbe deliberate slowdown, then I will be disenfranchised.
You OK with that?

[Gardening Grandma]

Aug 14, 2020 18:10:49 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Aug 14, 2020 18:02:11 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

Under normal circumstances, I do believe that it is safe. My concern is with what’s happening with the postal service now, in the months leading up to the election.

If people are reporting now that they are receiving their mail weeks after it should have been delivered, and going days without receiving any mail at all, what happens when the volume is increased due to mail in ballots? Will those issues be corrected by then so that everyone’s vote is counted appropriately?

Another option around here for those who are really concerned is ballot drop boxes.  As listed in my County Voter's Guide, there are 24 locations of drop boxes in Seattle, with another 45 in other cities or towns in the county.  Rural counties may have more of an issue, but voters in a town or city should usually be able to find a drop box not too far out of the way, once they receive their ballot.  Guarantees it will be picked up on time and processed.

But you have to RECEIVE the ballot in the mail first

[tallguy]

Aug 14, 2020 20:29:35 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Aug 14, 2020 20:13:12 GMT -5 tallguy said:

[ But again, Republicans are mostly concerned with decreasing turnout.  That is why voting is an all-day ordeal in some places, and generally in areas that favor Democrats.

[

Curious, why in an area that favors Democrats are there few polling places? Aren’t these areas under Democratic control? If under Democratic control don’t the Dems control numbers of polling places?
I’ve seen on tv long lines if people waiting to vote but seem to remember this in cities. Would appreciate if you could cite some of these places and what parties are government in

In NJ governor announced today ballots would be sent to all registered voters. If you want to vote in person you will get a provisional ballot (cause you might have already mailed ballot)

Why would you make that assumption?  Voting is made difficult by Republican leaders in red states.  Whether at the county or the state level, Democrats are not in charge.  Democratic-leaning areas in those states are forced to endure restrictions on their free right to vote.  Limited hours, few polling places, long lines....  Whatever Republicans think they can do to make it difficult in areas they believe favor Democratic candidates, they'll give it a shot.   

[tallguy]

Aug 14, 2020 20:35:48 GMT -5 Gardening Grandma said:

Aug 14, 2020 18:10:49 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Another option around here for those who are really concerned is ballot drop boxes.  As listed in my County Voter's Guide, there are 24 locations of drop boxes in Seattle, with another 45 in other cities or towns in the county.  Rural counties may have more of an issue, but voters in a town or city should usually be able to find a drop box not too far out of the way, once they receive their ballot.  Guarantees it will be picked up on time and processed.

But you have to RECEIVE the ballot in the mail first

True, but then again, they can always send ballots out earlier too.  

[billisonboard]

Aug 14, 2020 20:29:35 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Aug 14, 2020 20:13:12 GMT -5 tallguy said:

[ But again, Republicans are mostly concerned with decreasing turnout.  That is why voting is an all-day ordeal in some places, and generally in areas that favor Democrats.

[

Curious, why in an area that favors Democrats are there few polling places? Aren’t these areas under Democratic control? If under Democratic control don’t the Dems control numbers of polling places?
I’ve seen on tv long lines if people waiting to vote but seem to remember this in cities. Would appreciate if you could cite some of these places and what parties are government in

In NJ governor announced today ballots would be sent to all registered voters. If you want to vote in person you will get a provisional ballot (cause you might have already mailed ballot)

It is important to know who controls the voting process. Here in Washington State, it was the state Legislature with governor signature that has the whole state doing by mail only. Who had the power to make that call for all of NJ?

[dondub]

The Repo-Cons are un-Amerikkkan and Anti-America. They have been blatantly suppressing votes and have stolen at least one presidency. Very few on the right give a shit as they have been co-opted and corrupted.
So we need an executive order that mandates all states have mail in or drop off voting, that everyone is automatically motor/voter registered at 18, and that we have a national voting day that encourages everyone to vote. Perhaps President Biden can do. If no President Biden we are fucked.😳

[countrygirl2]

Have you guys been listening today and also Rachel Maddow covered it pretty good.

I heard they have pulled about 500 of the fast sorting machines, that sorts 35,000 pieces of mail by bar code AN HOUR.  Ok, they did not just quickly pull them they destroyed them or threw them in dumpsters.  

At first they thought they were just being pulled offline for awhile, well no. Also overtime cut and more.
So now if they even get it stopped the damage is already done. How many have been destroyed so far I don't know.

They just fixed the election. It's like trump said this will be the most crooked election in history, he just made it so.

Don't plan on getting mail, I'm sure there are piles at PO's. I've been getting picture on facebook of mail stacked up everywhere.

They need to fire this guy Dejoy quick, but I fear the damage is done. Another trumpster will end up in jail, but what good will it do?

We need to encourage each post office to sort the ballots first then everything else second.

We are screwed folks.

[countrygirl2]

dondub we are fucked.

[countrygirl2]

They were also picking up post boxes all over, there was such an outcry thanks to a reporter that has been stopped till after the election.

These people sure must be getting paid off to do this stuff. Does Russia reach that far with their money? Maybe

[Deleted]

Trump is continually talking about election fraud. He's doing this not because there is election fraud, but he wants his base to take up arms for him if/when he loses. 

It's clear as day what is happening. We are the next Belarus if people don't start paying attention and very quickly. 

[Deleted]

DS got our mail today. First time at the PO in 10 days. All we had was packages from Amazon and the local newspaper. No mail whatsoever. Weird.

[ken a.k.a OMK]

We will vote in person, early at the volunteer fire house as usual. Never had a line of more then 10 people ahead of us.

[happyhoix]

Aug 14, 2020 20:33:06 GMT -5 Gardening Grandma said:

Aug 14, 2020 20:29:35 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

[

Curious, why in an area that favors Democrats are there few polling places? Aren’t these areas under Democratic control? If under Democratic control don’t the Dems control numbers of polling places?
I’ve seen on tv long lines if people waiting to vote but seem to remember this in cities. Would appreciate if you could cite some of these places and what parties are government in

In NJ governor announced today ballots would be sent to all registered voters. If you want to vote in person you will get a provisional ballot (cause you might have already mailed ballot)

I live in WA state (a proud blue state). ALL our voting is by mail and has been for years.
If my ballot doesn’t get to me in time because of tbe deliberate slowdown, then I will be disenfranchised.
You OK with that?

My lovely MIL, a devoted trumpian and fox and friends viewer, was not aware of trump’s attempts to slow down the mail. When DH explained what trump was doing, MIL , who is 87 and rarely leaves the house due to vivid, was upset - she pays all her bills through the mail, and gets her SSI that way. I’m sure that’s true for most seniors.

Will this assault on the mail service backfire on trump? He’s already lost some of the senior vote due to covid.

[TheOtherMe]

I printed my absentee ballot request this morning and put it in the mail.  

Website says I could email it, but a hard copy has to follow.

Plan to drop it off once I receive ballot in October.

[thyme4change]

Aug 15, 2020 8:43:32 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

Aug 14, 2020 20:33:06 GMT -5 Gardening Grandma said:

I live in WA state (a proud blue state). ALL our voting is by mail and has been for years.
If my ballot doesn’t get to me in time because of tbe deliberate slowdown, then I will be disenfranchised.
You OK with that?

My lovely MIL, a devoted trumpian and fox and friends viewer, was not aware of trump’s attempts to slow down the mail. When DH explained what trump was doing, MIL , who is 87 and rarely leaves the house due to vivid, was upset - she pays all her bills through the mail, and gets her SSI that way. I’m sure that’s true for most seniors.

Will this assault on the mail service backfire on trump? He’s already lost some of the senior vote due to covid.

If Fox doesn't tell them of the reason the post office sucks, how will they blame Trump. If Fox is on board with this, they will go with the "the post office sucks and wastes our tax dollars and we should just get rid of it" messaging. If they hear that every day for a few months, they will start to believe it. The problem is, Trump didn't start early enough to get his base behind him. Now, he has to rush the destruction of the post office without the backing of full on outrage by 30% of the country.

[oped]

I am very concerned about this. We have been discussing it on a local facebook board. All of the country they are removing and destroying mail sorting machines. Those machines that are left have time limits on when they can be turned on and off. Overtime has been suspended, and because there is such an initial cost to hiring new employees, that is one way in which the post office has continued to function. So many things to make the mail inefficient and it is ruining more than voting... people can't get meds, packages are late... 

Lots of people locally are saying drop the completed ballot at the election office... but you can only do that in person so daughter at college still needs to come home if she does that. 

And honestly, I'm in a red area. I'm not sure I trust them to count my mail in ballot?  That's horrible, but everyone seems emboldened these days to say and do anything... 

[Deleted]

Aug 14, 2020 20:40:05 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Aug 14, 2020 20:29:35 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

[

Curious, why in an area that favors Democrats are there few polling places? Aren’t these areas under Democratic control? If under Democratic control don’t the Dems control numbers of polling places?
I’ve seen on tv long lines if people waiting to vote but seem to remember this in cities. Would appreciate if you could cite some of these places and what parties are government in

In NJ governor announced today ballots would be sent to all registered voters. If you want to vote in person you will get a provisional ballot (cause you might have already mailed ballot)

Why would you make that assumption?  Voting is made difficult by Republican leaders in red states.  Whether at the county or the state level, Democrats are not in charge.  Democratic-leaning areas in those states are forced to endure restrictions on their free right to vote.  Limited hours, few polling places, long lines....  Whatever Republicans think they can do to make it difficult in areas they believe favor Democratic candidates, they'll give it a shot.   

The Texas Secretary of State (R) controls all elections statewide, even in a so-called Blue county and City like mine.  

[weltschmerz]

Aug 14, 2020 20:40:05 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Aug 14, 2020 20:29:35 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

[

Curious, why in an area that favors Democrats are there few polling places? Aren’t these areas under Democratic control? If under Democratic control don’t the Dems control numbers of polling places?
I’ve seen on tv long lines if people waiting to vote but seem to remember this in cities. Would appreciate if you could cite some of these places and what parties are government in

In NJ governor announced today ballots would be sent to all registered voters. If you want to vote in person you will get a provisional ballot (cause you might have already mailed ballot)

Why would you make that assumption?  Voting is made difficult by Republican leaders in red states.  Whether at the county or the state level, Democrats are not in charge.  Democratic-leaning areas in those states are forced to endure restrictions on their free right to vote.  Limited hours, few polling places, long lines....  Whatever Republicans think they can do to make it difficult in areas they believe favor Democratic candidates, they'll give it a shot.   

How can this possibly be legal? Trump is clearly trying to fix the election. Why isn't there more of an outcry?