I just received a Vote-by-Mail application from the Elections Dept. in MA

[smirkymonkey]

I wasn't aware that all citizens in the state would have this option, but I am glad we do. No excuse is needed. This will be good for both the Primary in September and the General Election in November.

I am definitely thinking of applying even though my polling place is only a block away, but if for some reason there is 2nd surge in Covid infections in the state or something out of the ordinary pops up (more of Trump's dirty tricks), I think this might be the best way to go.

However, I wanted to run it by people here just to see if anyone can think of a reason why I should opt out and choose to vote in person instead. It seems safer to vote by mail, but I could be overlooking something.

[stillcool]

1. I live in MA too...

and we're definitely going to take advantage. We also live close to where we vote, but who knows what life will be like in November? If I were in another state, I might be concerned, but not here. We had a zipcode/address issue that has already been worked out, so we're good to go.

[BatteriesNotNeeded]

2. I've wondered the same thing

but probably will vote in person. I live in a very red county and don't trust the trump cheats.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. We applied for ours on Monday.

This is the way we're going this year, although I'd enjoy glaring at the dopes holding Trump signs on election day.

[Sogo]

4. Until Trump just appointed one of his loyalists to head the USPS,

I was all about voting by mail. Now I’m suspicious about how they plan to screw with the mailed ballots. Maybe in deep blue MA you’ll be safe, but in more swing districts and states, one has to be wary....Also, in heavily African-American areas and Hispanic areas, it would be an easy way to suppress the vote by having ballots get “lost” in the mail.

I know where I am in small town IA, I’ll be able to take my absentee ballot straight into the auditor’s office and, thus, won’t have to be worried about my vote not counting for any reasons having to do with the mail....

[smirkymonkey]

5. My ward, in fact every ward in Boston, voted overwhelmingly for Clinton and Kaine in the

last election. Like, landslide overwhelmingly. I don't think Trump would even bother to try to screw with things here. That would be about as stupid as trying to fix things in NYC, where he was trounced as well. I'm pretty sure it will be safe.

If he's going to meddle, I think it's going to be in the areas where the margins are narrow. There has to be some way to monitor this process to prevent cheating. We just can't lose this again. It is unthinkable.

[getagrip_already]

13. Even in deep blue mass, the usps is managed by trump appointees....

If they decide to bottle up urban area mail in ballots, it will affect us just as badly.

There is not an insignificant level of red hats here in central mass. If urban areas had their votes messed with - boston, worcester, and springfield/amherst - it could easily throw the election to trump or gop house candidates. MA is blue mostly because of the urban areas. The burbs and rural areas aren't as left as we would like.

I think I'm just going to vote in person. No worse than going to the supermarket or hardware store, and they can't seize or lose my ballot.

[Tracer]

6. I got my application too.

But I'm waiting to decide whether to vote by mail or in person. I'm leaning to "in person", simply because it feels more real, more important. Maybe I'm foolish and naive.

I don't know how my town is going to handle in-person voting this fall, but I'm sure that all precautions will be taken.

[smirkymonkey]

7. Where do you live?

Are you in a safe blue area? I just don't want to take any chances that something could prevent me from physically voting in November.

[Tracer]

12. I'm 17 miles west of Boston.

I'm guessing that my town is about 70/30 Dems and Republicans.

There is one HUGE Drumpf sign on Rte 20 in town in front of a house. It used to be big cut-out letters on top of the fence, but I think someone made them take it down. So now its painted ON the fence.

All my family and friends are very blue.

[smirkymonkey]

14. Oh, ok. So I would say a mail in vote would be very safe.

I like the idea of voting in person as well. It always makes me feel very proud. I am only worried this year because everything is so uncertain. I just want to make sure that my vote gets counted and nothing gets in my way.

This country is getting more and more screwed up every day, and even though we are in a pretty safe, liberal area, there is no telling what things might look like in November.

That must be one brave (or insane) Trumper you've got out there. Does he really think he's going to change anything in this state?

[Green Line]

8. I live in MA

Also only a block to my polling place, but I'll be applying for mail in just in case the virus is raging again in the fall.

[smirkymonkey]

9. I think that is my greatest concern.

And I just don't want to take the chance.

[Totally Tunsie]

10. Take advantage of the VBM option!

You'll love it. Think for a moment about how much you're enjoying working from home and ordering groceries online...the same freedom can be enjoyed by VBM. I've done so in RI for the last couple of elections, and plan to do so from now on.

If you're concerned about your ballot's arrival, you can check the website for the MA Sec. of State, which should have confirmation they have it in hand.

It will be interesting to see how many voters in the states where VBM is available use this option. Will they take the easy option or suffer the wrath of Chump's predictions? (Go for the easy!) Between VBM and Early Voting, it might be quite a bit quieter than normal at the polls on Election Day, but there are still many "ol' timers" who make it an event.

[smirkymonkey]

17. Hey Tunsie!

Good to hear from you! I think I am going to go for it. My neighborhood tends to be a little on the more "mature" side, so I have a feeling that most people are going to go for the VBM option here as well.

Good to know that I can check! That's very reassuring. I have never voted by mail before, so this is all new to me, but I am please to know that I have the option. Especially now when everything is so uncertain.

I have never been so nervous about an election in my life. I feel like I am just holding my breath until all the votes are counted. I am going to take the entire week off, because either way, I will be in no shape to concentrate on work.

[Totally Tunsie]

25. Hiya' Smirky

Here's the link for tracking your MA ballot(s):

https://www.sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema/track/trackmyballot.aspx

Easy, peasy - enter name and address as it appears on your application.

Hope you find it works well for you.

My concern about this election is that I'm afraid it might be a while before we have a clear, undisputed winner if Chump tries to avail himself of clogging the state courts with election challenges. Hopefully it'll be so much of a blowout that there can be no question that JB is our next leader. I won't rest easy until I hear Joe taking the oath on January 20.

Stay well!

[smirkymonkey]

26. Hey, thanks for the link! I have bookmarked it!

I am concerned about the same thing as well. I hope it doesn't get drawn out like that because it will just be excruciating not knowing. I already feel like I am on tenterhooks and it's only July. I just wish I could see into the future.

Until then, take care of yourself and stay healthy!

[Buckeye_Democrat]

11. Same in Ohio. The applications are mailed to every home...

... around Labor Day, with no excuse needed to vote by mail.

I'll wait for it to come, as usual, but will contact the Board of Elections if there's any delays.

Correction: Mailed to all registered voters.

[smirkymonkey]

18. Good to hear! Especially since Ohio is a swing state, and we tend to have an advantage

with mail in ballots, provided that they aren't tampered with. We are all rooting for you guys!

[Buckeye_Democrat]

20. Thanks! Me too, for all of us!

[csziggy]

15. I got a card recommending vote my mail from the Supervisor of Elections for Leon County

I thought about it, but decided that I will vote in person during early voting as usual. For the primaries this past spring when my husband I went to vote, we were the only voters in the polling place with six poll workers.

I was ready to sign up to vot by mail but my husband talked me out of it. In order to mail our ballots, at least one of us would have to go to the Post Office - the same post office location that cannot deliver a certified letter to an address a half block from the PO location. I really do not trust them with very much right now.

[smirkymonkey]

19. That makes sense.

Especially in a state like Florida! I wouldn't trust them either. You guys have some real slimeballs down there who are all too willing to do Trump's bidding.

[csziggy]

23. I do trust the Supervisor of Elections

His predecessor, Ion Sancho, was pretty famous for his efforts towards fair and open elections. The current guy was Sancho's choice to take over when Sancho retired.

The worry is the state level tallies and the significantly bad local PO. Usually I trust the PO but this one has made the news about their poor service. Part of our route made the papers when it came out that entire neighborhoods were being skipped by the delivery person.

Our box is not visible from anywhere on our property so we have a PO Box in the particular PO location. Medical deliveries have arrived at the PO but we were never given notice. When we went up to check on them, either they denied the packages ever arrived or they took an hour or more to locate them. We had that PO Box since that PO location opened and before we moved onto the farm in 1979. In the last five years the service has become extremely unreliable.

Although I support the Post Office, this local branch needs a major shakeup. I've tired to call the postal inspectors but could not find contact information to complain.

[smirkymonkey]

24. Yes, I would definitely go in person if you don't feel that it would be a risk

healthwise. Especially in an important state like Florida. We need every vote we can get there.

I wish you and your husband the best of luck!

[boston bean]

16. I sent mine back in. Post office delivery to entity in same small town

Will be received and counted.

[smirkymonkey]

21. Good for you!

I think I have made up my mind to go ahead with it.

[boston bean]

22. Yeah. Big city I might have had my druthers.

[Larissa]

27. New Jersey Mail Issues

This doesn't surprise me one bit. (I live in New Jersey -- a blue state.)

Mail Delivery Delays Spark Complaints in Ocean County Towns (NJ)
https://patch.com/new-jersey/brick/mail-delivery-delays-spark-complaints-ocean-county-towns