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Nevilledog

(50,659 posts)
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 04:14 PM Jul 2020

California rejected 100,000 ballots postmarked too late, and Trump wants it to be worse in November

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1964262

Donald Trump is doing everything he can to kneecap the U.S. Postal Service, and the American Postal Workers Union wants to be sure everyone knows how high the stakes are. The Postal Service is not just responsible for prescriptions and letters from grandparents during a pandemic and basically every damn thing people in rural areas need shipped to them; American democracy itself is at stake.

With coronavirus likely to still be a major concern in many states come November—thanks, Trump!—more people than ever will be voting by mail. But in California, where voting by mail is already an established practice, more than 100,000 ballots in the March primary were rejected because they weren’t postmarked in time. “We are very concerned, and we want the public to be aware,” APWU President Mark Dimondstein warned, pointing to the possibility of bigger problems in November.

In Virginia, as many as 5% of ballots were rejected because they were postmarked too late. The Postal Service needs the resources to process these ballots quickly enough to get them counted, but Trump—who has made his fear and loathing of mail voting more than clear—wants the opposite.

Reports are spreading that Trump’s new postmaster general is issuing direct orders that would slow down the mail, while in at least one state, postal workers say their state postmaster is going even further to create delays. This all comes against a backdrop of Trump saying things like “The Postal Service is a joke” and making clear that he thinks voting by mail would make him lose in November.

*snip*
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California rejected 100,000 ballots postmarked too late, and Trump wants it to be worse in November (Original Post) Nevilledog Jul 2020 OP
Vote early in-person if your state allows! soothsayer Jul 2020 #1
Fill out your Ballot and mail it within 24 hours of getting it. ProudMNDemocrat Jul 2020 #2
I plan on voting in person democrattotheend Jul 2020 #8
So am I. At least in person, if my signature is challenged, I can resolve that in real time, Blue_true Jul 2020 #28
There really is no excuse for them to be late. At least not in Florida. Lochloosa Jul 2020 #3
There is an argument for not voting too too early democrattotheend Jul 2020 #9
But the ec helps us here dsc Jul 2020 #10
Good point democrattotheend Jul 2020 #11
The presidential ballot is clear on what happens if Trump or Biden die before Election Day. Blue_true Jul 2020 #27
Do you recognize that the post office is now under attack and processes disrupted? lostnfound Jul 2020 #16
At worst, mail will be delayed a day. Don't wait. We need to get mail Hoyt Jul 2020 #4
At worst a day? SlogginThroughIt Jul 2020 #12
Be glad to look. What I've read is that they aren't going to pay Hoyt Jul 2020 #15
That is false, I believe. They are disrupting processes and probably will shortchange post offices lostnfound Jul 2020 #17
Do you have a citation? Besides, in the 34 states where anyone can mail in a ballot, Hoyt Jul 2020 #18
Link to article lostnfound Jul 2020 #20
The article talks about limiting overtime by waiting till the next day if Hoyt Jul 2020 #22
It will create a backlog, not just one day. COVID is driving overtime lostnfound Jul 2020 #23
No, it's a new Postmaster, trump appointee who thinks he can make Hoyt Jul 2020 #25
It's very likely they plan longer delays and will discriminate based on zip code lostnfound Jul 2020 #19
Only if we let it. Hoyt Jul 2020 #21
Washington goes by postmark, too gratuitous Jul 2020 #5
People procrastinate. I don't think this is some evil plan come to fruition TeamPooka Jul 2020 #6
I plan on taking my ballot TO the USPS and asking the clerk to postmark it at that time. Frustratedlady Jul 2020 #7
K&R, ... so yes, Trump can IN EFFECT implement something like Marshal Law but not the law itself in uponit7771 Jul 2020 #13
CA sends out absentee ballots weeks in advance Mz Pip Jul 2020 #14
30 days in advance, IIRC Retrograde Jul 2020 #24
There is no reason for people to sit on ballots until the last days of a General. Blue_true Jul 2020 #26
This makes no sense. Ms. Toad Jul 2020 #29

ProudMNDemocrat

(16,468 posts)
2. Fill out your Ballot and mail it within 24 hours of getting it.
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 04:24 PM
Jul 2020

No excuses.

Get this message all over the Internet via Social Media. Facebook, Letters to your local papers, talking with people, etc.

democrattotheend

(11,605 posts)
8. I plan on voting in person
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 06:14 PM
Jul 2020

With the postal service overwhelmed by the increase in mail ballots and probably the overall increase in mail/packages in light of the pandemic, plus Trump installing a puppet to oversee the postal service, I feel more confident voting in person. When I voted in the primary in June they had good safety protocols in place. Everyone was wearing masks, they had sanitizer everywhere, and they gave each voter disposable gloves to put on for using the touch pad sign-in. It was also fairly empty when I went. I anticipate there will be a bigger crowd in November, but I'm lucky enough to live in a state with polls open for 15 hours on election day, so it shouldn't be that bad. I think there is also an option to go to the county HQ before election day and get a ballot, which in 2016 I was given the option to either fill out on the spot or take home and mail.

I recommend that those who feel comfortable doing so vote in person, given the risk of absentee ballots not arriving or getting postmarked/returned in time.

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
28. So am I. At least in person, if my signature is challenged, I can resolve that in real time,
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 10:49 PM
Jul 2020

with help from democratic poll watchers.

Lochloosa

(16,018 posts)
3. There really is no excuse for them to be late. At least not in Florida.
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 04:26 PM
Jul 2020

I get mine in Florida well ahead of the actual election date.

Unless you just don't know who you are voting for.

democrattotheend

(11,605 posts)
9. There is an argument for not voting too too early
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 06:16 PM
Jul 2020

If something happens and one of the candidates changes for whatever reason, early voters are SOL. In 2002, Minnesota law was incredibly unfair - early votes for Norm Coleman against Paul Wellstone still counted for Coleman, but early votes for Wellstone didn't count for Mondale. This varies depending on the state, but I'd be hesitant to cast my ballot a month early in case g-d forbid something happens, especially with a raging pandemic and a nominee who's close to 80 years old.

democrattotheend

(11,605 posts)
11. Good point
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 06:28 PM
Jul 2020

Although I think different states have different laws about the effect of a candidate change, even with electors. I don't think every state lists the names of the electors on the ballot. Also, down-ballot candidates don't have electors.

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
27. The presidential ballot is clear on what happens if Trump or Biden die before Election Day.
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 10:48 PM
Jul 2020

The Vice President of the winner on Nov 3 becomes President either immediately (in Pence’s case) or on Jan 20, 2020.

lostnfound

(16,138 posts)
16. Do you recognize that the post office is now under attack and processes disrupted?
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 08:26 PM
Jul 2020

Intentionally. So not postmarked in time may have nothing to do with when the ballot was dropped in the mail.

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
4. At worst, mail will be delayed a day. Don't wait. We need to get mail
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 04:27 PM
Jul 2020

in ballots in early enough to check on-line that it was received/counted.

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
15. Be glad to look. What I've read is that they aren't going to pay
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 06:41 PM
Jul 2020

overtime if they can leave a pallet of mail until the next day. If that’s what they are doing, I have no problem with it.

lostnfound

(16,138 posts)
17. That is false, I believe. They are disrupting processes and probably will shortchange post offices
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 08:27 PM
Jul 2020

The same way they shortchange polling places.

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
18. Do you have a citation? Besides, in the 34 states where anyone can mail in a ballot,
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 08:39 PM
Jul 2020

it’s hard to shortchange polling places, unless we let them.

lostnfound

(16,138 posts)
20. Link to article
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 08:44 PM
Jul 2020

Postal Service memos detail ‘difficult’ changes, including slower mail delivery
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/07/14/postal-service-trump-dejoy-delay-mail/

This is not an accident. The trump administration likes to break stuff on purpose.

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
22. The article talks about limiting overtime by waiting till the next day if
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 08:49 PM
Jul 2020

a large batch of mail comes in late. I’m OK with that.

People need to request their ballot early, return it early or preferably drop it off, check to see if it was received, stay on top of it. No excuse for not voting in the 34 states that allow anyone to vote by mail.

lostnfound

(16,138 posts)
23. It will create a backlog, not just one day. COVID is driving overtime
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 09:06 PM
Jul 2020

Interview today with a postal manager on msnbc discussed how people taking time off for COVID, combined with higher than normal volume, is driving the need for overtime.

That isn’t likely to change before November.

This is a new strategy, not an accident.

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
25. No, it's a new Postmaster, trump appointee who thinks he can make
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 10:19 PM
Jul 2020

them more efficient.

It’s not an election conspiracy. Just vote and encourage others to do so, without a lot of “it’s rigged, so stay at home.”

Order ballot early, drop it off or mail it back early, check to make sure it was received.

lostnfound

(16,138 posts)
19. It's very likely they plan longer delays and will discriminate based on zip code
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 08:43 PM
Jul 2020

Postal employees are complaining about the new leadership.
This will be ONE MORE WAY of disenfranchising people.

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
5. Washington goes by postmark, too
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 04:32 PM
Jul 2020

In Oregon, we go by the clock, not the postmark. If your ballot is at the County elections office by 8 p.m. on Election Day, it counts. If it's in one of the widely available ballot depots, it counts. If it's not in either of those places by 8 p.m. on Election Day, it doesn't count.

In the two weeks leading up to Election Day, every local media outlet gives the public a countdown of when it's still "safe" to mail your postage-paid ballot (Friday before the Tuesday). After that, voters are advised to drop off their ballot at the elections office or a ballot depot. If you insist on in-person voting, there are some polling places open on Election Day, but after a couple of decades at it in Oregon, most voters know the routine.

I think the clock deadline instead of the postmark deadline is better, but that may be just my home-town prejudice. A hard time-dependent deadline just makes more sense to me.

Frustratedlady

(16,254 posts)
7. I plan on taking my ballot TO the USPS and asking the clerk to postmark it at that time.
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 05:12 PM
Jul 2020

I'm pretty sure you can do that.

uponit7771

(90,225 posts)
13. K&R, ... so yes, Trump can IN EFFECT implement something like Marshal Law but not the law itself in
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 06:33 PM
Jul 2020

... order to lean the election his way.

Retrograde

(10,068 posts)
24. 30 days in advance, IIRC
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 09:13 PM
Jul 2020

I typically get mine 3-4 days after it's mailed. Since we like to stick as many issues as possible on it, the ballots can be quite lengthy, and it typically takes me a week to get through the pros and cons on all the propositions. But that still leaves plenty of time to send it back - or to take it to one of the many drop-box locations throughout the county.

I like to give my ballot at least 10 days to find its way back - and I check the registrar's web site every day to confirm that they've received it!

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
26. There is no reason for people to sit on ballots until the last days of a General.
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 10:43 PM
Jul 2020

I truly don’t understand why people do that.

Ms. Toad

(33,915 posts)
29. This makes no sense.
Tue Jul 28, 2020, 11:14 PM
Jul 2020

If it is the postmark that matters, all you have to do is to walk into the postoffice and get your ballot postmarked. Any slow-down in delivery will have absolutely no impact on the postmark date.

Since the article focuses on the late postmark (completely under the voter's control), the rest of it talking about a delay between postmark and delivery) is completely irrelevant.

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