*DROP- OFF BALLOTING: 1ST CHECK WITH YOUR STATE TO SEE IF AN OPTION: Alternative to Vote- By- Mail*

[appalachiablue]

Last edited Mon Aug 3, 2020, 06:33 AM - Edit history (1)

*Do not vote by mail. I repeat: DO NOT VOTE BY MAIL! Do this instead.* Daily Kos, Aug. 2, 2020.

If you decide to vote absentee in the November election, please don’t put your ballot in the mail. If your ballot gets lost or delayed, you’re out of luck. There’s a better way. The USPS is overwhelmed. And its leadership is intentionally slowing mail delivery down. They claim it’s to save money and resources, but the practical result is that first-class mail is being delayed. By November, if current trends continue, first-class mail will be days or weeks behind schedule. And all the mail-in ballots are expected to further overwhelm the USPS’ fragile resources.

Many states (most states?) will not allow ballots to be counted if they are received after election day, EVEN IF THEY WERE MAILED WEEKS BEFORE. But voting in person might be tedious, complicated, or even dangerous. So what can we do? Fortunately, there is a better way. Every state that provides for early voting or mail-in voting or absentee voting, whatever you want to call it, also provides an alternate method for DELIVERING your ballot to your secretary of state to be counted.

> It’s called DROP-OFF BALLOTING. It’s faster than mailing your ballot. It’s safer than in-person voting. It’s convenient. It’s easy. It’s free. And, depending on the rules in your state, your vote may possibly be tabulated ahead of Election Day, so there won’t be a days- or weeks-long wait to determine a winner in each race. So check the policy in your state. First, you must apply for an absentee or mail-in ballot. Some states are sending absentee ballot applications to all registered voters automatically, but many are not. Check the rules in your state.

Then after you have applied, received, completed, and signed your ballot, find the BALLOT DROP-OFF location closest to you. Just do an on-line search for “DROP OFF BALLOT LOCATION” for your state. It may be the same as your polling place, or it may be even closer. Deliver your ballot to an official drop-off location on or before November 3, and you’re done. It’s fast, convenient, safe, and free. And it won’t overwhelm the Post Office. Spread the word.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/8/2/1965837/-Do-not-vote-by-mail-I-repeat-DO-NOT-VOTE-BY-MAIL-Do-this-instead

P.S. MAKE SURE YOU ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE, DO IT THIS SUMMER. Many people have moved in this tumultuous time, others have been DROPPED FROM STATE VOTING ROLLS for 'inactivity' - not voting in recent elections, or moving to another address.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Excellent advice! I plan to do this.

And just to make the point super clear:

Then after you have applied, received, completed, and signed your ballot, find the BALLOT DROP-OFF location closest to you. Just do an on-line search for “DROP OFF BALLOT LOCATION” for your state. It may be the same as your polling place, or it may be even closer. Deliver your ballot to an official drop-off location on or before November 3, and you’re done.

[mr_lebowski]

2. That's what I always do ... great advice! (nt)

[SheltieLover]

3. TN does NOT allow drop off mail-in ballots

Also, once you request mail-in ballot, you may NOT vote in person! 🤬

[appalachiablue]

4. Bummer, sorry about that, but thanks for letting us know about Tenn.

[SheltieLover]

5. YW!

I will vote in person, small town, never crowded. Just wanted to make others aware.

This state is rabidly red.

Already a law on the books outlawing abortion if/when Roe is overturned. (Around time of boof boy's confirmation.)

[Siwsan]

6. That's my plan in Michigan

The clerk's office is just a few miles from where I live. They have designated drop off boxes, or you can go inside and hand it to one of the township employees. Then the state has it set so you can go on line and track your ballot.

[NCjack]

7. I hope Congress requires the head of the USPO to prioritize the mail-in

ballots. Every local post office must be required to sort out the ballots and treat them with greatest priority.

Criminal penalties for Post Master General and local Post Masters for delaying ballots.

[appalachiablue]

8. Agree, and I don't want people to bash the USPS for intentional

sabotage of voting ballots for political aims. It's a great and needed American institution that must be preserved and respected.

[yellowdogintexas]

9. your best option is your local elections office. They probably have a website

Our county (Tarrant; Fort Worth TX) has ONE drop off location, which is the somewhat centrally located Elections Office. The last time I checked on this, ballots could only be dropped at the Elections Office on Election Day. Hopefully this has changed. We receive our mail in ballots about a month prior to the election, which in normal times should be sufficient. Mail your ballot in the same day you receive it if that is what you must do!!

If you have a mail in ballot and have not mailed it and decide to vote in person, TAKE THE BALLOT WITH YOU!!! The Election Judge will advise the Early Voting clerks that you have surrendered your ballot, and you will be allowed to vote. If you don't have it with you, we can still call and the clerk can verify that a ballot has not been received; they will flag your name and the ballot which arrives first will be the one that counts. This process may vary from state to state but having your ballot with you will simplify things.

Early voting in Texas has been increased by 6 days.

You can verify your registration with the local elections office and if you are not on the registry you can call them up and they will tell you why. Here is the #1 reason a voter can be purged.

We send out new voter registration cards in January of every even numbered year. If it should be returned to the Elections office because you have moved, your file will be marked and an attempt will be made to contact you. If you vote, the judge will see the suspension on the registry and update your address plus give you a change of address form, which will go with the ballots to the Elections office.
However, if that card is returned in the next election cycle, you will be purged. You can register again but there is a deadline to do that before an election.

Always change your address with the Elections Office if you move. DO NOT depend on the DMV to do it for you.



On the other hand, you can skip voting for years and not be purged as long as your voter card is not returned undeliverable.