General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWill GOP states start marking ballots that get mailed out as absentee or vote by mail
so the post office will know which ones to slow? Currently I don't believe there is any way to tell the difference but I'm willing to bet some sleazy GOP elections officials in close states will try to change it.
Historic NY
(37,453 posts)OregonBlue
(7,754 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,869 posts)In a few states you have to have an excuse for using an absentee ballot, but in most there's no difference at all and no distinction is made.
OregonBlue
(7,754 posts)and regular vote by mail ballots. I think we should be on the lookout for such a sleazy tactic.
Ballots are not marked absentee or mail-in because there is no difference.
County elections officials check each and every vote-by-mail ballot that is cast, so even if a ballot was sent to the wrong voter it would be caught. Elections officials check to see if the voter has cast a ballot elsewhere. Every vote-by-mail ballot also has a unique bar code that elections officials scan. A voters signature on the vote-by-mail ballot return envelope is compared against the voters registration record. If a signature is missing or does not match the registration record, elections officials will reach out to the voter. If the voter does not respond and provide a missing/corrected signature, the ballot will not count.