I have a question re: absentee ballots.

[llmart]

This has been bothering me ever since I received my absentee ballot. There are lines and lines of fine print on two different envelopes explaining everything you have to do or not do to make sure your ballot is not tossed out. However, nowhere in all of the instructions or big letter warnings does it remind you that postage is necessary. Oh yes, it says on the return envelope that you must affix first class postage, but nowhere does it say how much.

Now, maybe I'm missing something here but these are larger than a normal business envelope and I can't help but wonder why they can't say whether one stamp or two is sufficient. I've read some online info that says they have to deliver the envelope even if there isn't enough postage on it, but then I read where that may not be true.

I just really want to make sure this gets to my township clerk. I do not trust the election process any longer after 2016. Plus, I can imagine that many people are intimidated by all the instructions on the envelope and be worried that they are doing something wrong. Why do they have to make voting so intimidating?

We are voting on a proposal to allow everyone to vote absentee in Michigan with no excuse necessary and if that passes, I would like to see the process simplified.

Oh, forgot to add that I emailed my concerns to our clerk who never answered me. I will also email the Republican Secretary of State whom I'm sure won't answer either.

[Buzz cook]

1. Mail in ballots in Washington don't need postage

That changed last year. But just a regular stamp was all it needed when there was postage.
If you're still worried take the envelope to the post office and ask them

[llmart]

6. I would like to see that be the case in every state.

Michigan requires postage.

I guess I'm not really that worried for myself, it just makes me wonder how little the people who make the rules don't have the ability to see that there might be people who are concerned about doing it correctly. I think senior citizens especially are very conscientious about following all the rules and dotting the i's and crossing the t's so to speak.

[rurallib]

2. different states have different rules, but when I have questions I call our county auditor

Or I guess township clerk. Pretty hard for them to ignore a phone call

[cally]

3. In my state, you can take your absentee ballot and turn it in

instead of mailing. California, even allows you to go vote early at the County Registrar of Voters.

[llmart]

4. I know you can turn it in to the township offices...

but I live in a senior community and many people in here no longer drive and it's more convenient for them to just put it out in their mailbox for pickup.

[DeminPennswoods]

5. Is this your first time voting by absentee ballot?

In PA, the return envelope does not need postage, it's pre-paid.

Make sure you are putting your ballot in the correct envelope, too.

Absentee voting is a multi-step process.
Step 1 is filling out the ballot itself
Step 2 is placing the ballot in a plain white envelope that's provided with the ballot material
Step 3 is sealing that envelope and placing it inside another envelope that should have on the back a place for you to sign your name and address and on the front is addressed to your local election bureau.
Step 4 is mailing the envelope package. If it's not pre-paid postage, take it to your local post office, go to the counter and have them weigh it and tell you the correct postage. If you're worried it won't arrive, you can, for an additional charge, request tracking.

The reason for the two envelopes is so the election bureau knows which absentee ballots have been returned from the outer envelope. The inner envelop is then removed and set aside to be opened when the absentee ballots are counted. That way your vote remains secret.

[llmart]

7. No, I've voted absentee for several years now.

As I stated to another poster, our envelopes are not prepaid postage, which I think they should be. Also, the post office is across the street from the township hall, so if I were going to drive anywhere I'd just drop it off at the township hall.

Oh, and our inner envelopes that contain the completed ballot are not sealed. Maybe they don't open the outer envelope until the ballots are counted.

I guess what I wanted to get across was the fact that at least here in Michigan the process isn't as straight forward and understandable by many and I have to wonder how this may create ballots that aren't counted.