Record # Absentee Ballots in Mail

USPS continues to receive positive media coverage, i.e. Broward County Supervisor of Elections Dr. Brenda Snipes telling South Florida media that “we have a great partnership with the Postal Service.”  On Tuesday, October 9, Broward Department of Elections held a media event that attracted print and television reporters.  South Florida District sent two 18-wheel trucks to pick up the first major drop of absentee ballots (114,000 ballots in 56 GPCs) for delivery to USPS for processing and delivery.  This is a record number of absentee ballots for the presidential election --- nearly double the first load of absentee ballot mailings in 2004.  On Friday, October 5, Miami-Dade County Elections Department mailed 172,000 absentee ballots to voters.

To ensure the timely delivery of mailed ballots, voters in the contiguous United States are asked to mail completed absentee ballots at least three days before the November 6 date of the federal general election — or November 3. Ballots mailed from the contiguous states to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands and vice versa must be mailed at least five days prior to the election date — or November 1. Voters should also consider the time of day when dropping their vote in a collection box to be sure it’s not past the pick-up time for the particular collection box.

Americans overseas, including service members of the U.S. Armed Services, should plan on mailing ballots according to the mailing schedule at www.usps.com/gov-services/gov-services.htm, or by contacting a local Army Post Office/Fleet Post Office (APO/FPO) or American embassy, for guidance in determining the actual cut-off date specific to the overseas location.

Tips for voters using mail ballots:

-- Visit state websites to ascertain election office locations and Vote by Mail rules.

-- Check with the local election office for rules governing mail ballots.

-- Place completed ballots inside their window envelopes correctly.

-- Ensure proper postage and stamp placement on upper right-hand corner of envelope.