*DROP-OFF BALLOTING: *1St CHECK YOUR STATE TO SEE IF IT'S AN OPTION: Alternative to Vote By-Mail *

[appalachiablue]

Last edited Mon Aug 3, 2020, 06:25 AM - Edit history (1)

~ (Seriously consider this, it may work for you. Posted today in 'Editorials,' originally from Daily Kos. Think about it!)
_____________

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

https://democraticunderground.com/1016264474

[Sherman A1]

1. We will drop off our ballots

The process is a little clunky here in St. Louis County but hardly insurmountable and the election board office isn’t all that far away from where we live to make it a easy trip then pick up some carryout on the way home.

[appalachiablue]

2. Glad to hear that, it's definitely an option. Best of luck!

[Sherman A1]

5. Best to you as well

[DownriverDem]

21. Do it in Michigan

Then you can check the SOS site to see that your ballot was received. Our primary is tomorrow and my ballot has been checked in.

[Sherman A1]

23. Our primary is also tomorrow

We dropped off our ballots two weeks ago. Just plan on watching the results as they come in.

[Dave in VA]

3. Great reminder!

Our local registrar's office has a special repainted mail box sitting out front where you can drop off your completed ballot.

Still waiting for the day when I can vote from my computer. I can do my banking, order a new driver's license, get a mortgage, etc., but can't cast a vote.

Come on America! Grow up, already!

[Tanuki]

4. It ls absolutely untrue that "every state" that has absentee/mail-in

balloting allows this. Tennessee, where I live, does not, although the ballot may be sent in via an alternative delivery service such as UPS or FedEx. DUers should check their local election laws or they may be in for an unpleasant and disenfranchising surprise when they go to drop off their ballot.

https://sos.tn.gov/products/elections/absentee-voting
..."8. Can I hand deliver my ballot to the election office?

No. You must return your ballot by mail (USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.)."

[appalachiablue]

6. *I just added to the Title, 'Check w Your State'

[woodsprite]

7. In DE, you can drop your mail in ballot

At your county election office - a single office in each county.

[we can do it]

46. That's what I'll be doing.

[ananda]

8. I'm thinking either ..

Vote early in person .. or

drop off my ballot in person.

[Sunsky]

9. This is what I'll be doing.

I called my SOE office to check on the security of these drop boxes. I was told that they are bolted down and only allow things to go in and not out, so if you mistakenly drop your phone in while delivering your ballot, you're out of luck or if you realize you've made a mistake on your ballot, you won't able to retrieve it.
I feel it's the best method in this health care and political climate if it's available.

[appalachiablue]

27. Thanks for the details and good luck!

[Kaleva]

10. In Mi., you, a family member or a person residing in your household can drop off your ballot.

https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8716_8728-21037--,00.html

[appalachiablue]

11. That is great, thanks for posting.

[DownriverDem]

22. Yep

That's what I do.

[appalachiablue]

28. super, duer!

[Kaleva]

33. For the first time in many years, my wife voted.

She liked the convenience of getting the ballot in the mail and me dropping it off at the township clerk's office which is 2 blocks away from our home.

[we can do it]

12. Works for me!

[appalachiablue]

29. Righto

[ehrnst]

13. In my city, they post the ballot drop off locations in September. (nt)

[appalachiablue]

30. Go for it & good luck

[we can do it]

14. One more suggestion I'd like to add.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213845785

[crickets]

43. +1000000

[appalachiablue]

45. Absolutely, we need to preserve and support the institution

of the US Postal Service. This new 'slow down' has several goals- to mess with mail in ballots, and to frustrate and discourage Americans so they switch to private run Fed Ex and other for profit outfits that can charge much higher costs.

Some 5-6 years ago I read a piece about a veteran who needed to replace her prosthetic device through a New England company. The quote for shipping it to her in Arizona via Fed Ex or UPS was over $900.00!!

The US Postal Service on the other hand, would charge around $150.00 she said. That's the difference between lower costs, salaries and overhead in the large public sector vs. the wide open 'free enterprise' system. Ghastly!

[SheltieLover]

15. TN does not allow for this

Once you request a mail-in ballot, you may not drop it off anywhere. Nor are you allowed to change your mind & vote in person. 🤬

Ty for posting this!

[appalachiablue]

18. For sure, surprised I was never really aware of this.

[SheltieLover]

25. Yes, me too!

But nothing is really too surprising here. Crappy red state.

Around the time boof boy was confirmed, TN passed law outlawing abortion automatically if/when Roe were to be overturned. 🤬

[KS Toronado]

35. So you request a mail-in ballot, our "new" Post Office never delivers it and you're turned away

Nov 3rd for attempting to vote in person because your government let you down. That's some
pretty f**ked up shit. We need a new national voting rights and laws after Joe is sworn in.

[SheltieLover]

42. Correct!

I concur with voting rights & these shitbag Rs need proson time for vote suppression!

[we can do it]

47. Just mail back ASAP.

[SheltieLover]

52. I will vote in person

Small area & never crowded at all.

Better than trusting the infamous Memphis Post Office with ANYTHING! It' "normal" for packages & mail to sit in Memphis for a week...prior to the ordered slow down of delivery.🤬

[appalachiablue]

51. Good info., thanks. And your DU name finally jogged where

I remembered shelties- a female friend had them years ago, and they were beautiful, well tempered, bright and devoted. Glad I finally jogged the brain cells to remember!

Dogs are my love too, I had a female red & white 'party' Cocker Spaniel (with nose freckles) who was a loving sweetheart companion for 19 years. Then an adopted little red Tibetan Spaniel fellow who was beautiful, gentle, sweet and a bit nervous.

If we get a bigger place I hope to get another one or two pooches, not now during this mess but perhaps in a year or so.

[Rorey]

16. Yes, and we've had it for years in Colorado

I use a drive-up drop-off box that's minutes from my house. It's working very well for us here in Colorado.

[appalachiablue]

17. Thanks for that, and happy voting this year.

[Rorey]

41. A big bonus IMO: election mail stops

As soon as my ballot is in the system, I stop getting election-related mail. I appreciate that campaign money isn't being wasted on me. I'll be filling out my ballot and dropping it off as soon as I get it this year.

When I walked precincts, I always told the people I talked to that little tidbit about how to stop getting campaign mail. Vote Blue and Vote Early.

[retread]

19. In my part of Florida mail-in ballots for the August primary arriveded early. The Supervisor of

Elections' web site states ballots may be dropped off at the Supervisor's office and the early voting sites. A special drop off box will be provided at all the former. You may also elect to vote in person at your precinct on election day even if you have received a mail-in ballot. The supervisor's web site allows you to track the status of your mail-in ballot and will indicated 1. The request for ballot is received. 2. Ballot is mailed to voter. 3. Completed ballot is received by Supervisor's office. 4. Ballot is counted!

Probably about as easy as it can get under state repug rules. Shows the importance of electing Democrats at the local level. My guess is a repug Supervisor of Elections will throw up as many barriers as they can come up with or more accurately as many as their masters tell them to use.

[appalachiablue]

20. Excellent, very thorough. Thanks for letting us know about Fla.

[Pacifist Patriot]

34. This has been my voting strategy.

I enrolled in the mail-in ballot option years ago. I check periodically to make sure the request is still active and renewed before each expiration date. Currently, my request expires at the end of this year.

When I receive my mail-in ballot, I put it somewhere safe. When early voting rolls around, I take my mail-in ballot to the polling place and exchange it for the in-person ballot.

In the few instances over the years when I knew I would not be able to vote in person, I completed the mail-in ballot and dropped it off at the Supervisor's office. They have several convenient locations throughout the county. Just did that with my primary ballot last week.

With all their other systemic issues regarding voting, Florida does get this part of it right.

[appalachiablue]

37. Glad to know that about the Sunshine State!

[Cha]

24. It worked for me on Kauai.. I ended up voting

in person though 'cause I hadn't received my 2nd Mail in Ballot yet. I accidently tossed the envelope with the first one.. so I got concerned because the 2nd ballot hadn't come yet, and the time was getting near when all ballots have to be in.. August 8th, 2020.

So I called Kauai Elections & she told me where The Kauai Voters Service Center is to drop it off and that I could vote in person if I wanted to. Just bring my ID.

The keeper of the Drop Off Box took my temperature first and then I was allowed to go in Conference Room B. There's one Voting machine & paper ballots.. and there's room for only 3 or 4 Voters at a time.. Quite private and they were all so nice and Helpful!

[appalachiablue]

31. That's great, tx for letting us know, even the minor mishaps.

[bullwinkle428]

26. I'm in Iowa - just found out I can drop off at county auditor's office, located

at the county courthouse.

[appalachiablue]

32. Terrific, on you go !!

[lagomorph777]

36. I checked the rules in VA; I can eliminate 2 of the 3 mail trips it would otherwise take.

Instead of mailing in an application for a ballot, I was able to submit the application online.
I'm still stuck with one mail trip in the middle; the state will mail me my ballot 45 days before November 3rd.
Then I will drop it off at the registrar's office in my county. The registrar's address was presented during the ballot application process.

[appalachiablue]

39. Well done, you're more than halfway there.

[Demsrule86]

38. We have early voting so I am going to mask up and vote in person.

I am in Ohio. I want that SOB Trump to lose on election night...

[appalachiablue]

40. Go for it !!

[we can do it]

48. Less crowded if you can avoid lunch time and right after work.

[crickets]

44. I considered voting absentee and dropping off the ballot in person,

but I think since GA has early voting, I will take advantage of that instead. I have done so sporadically in the past and found that I am usually the only person there, or at most one of two people. Gloves and a mask, along with the usual scrubbing after and it should be fine.

[we can do it]

49. Be safe!

[Brother Buzz]

50. My county, in California, installed secure drop-off boxes at every City Hall in the county....

years ago

Back when we were required to pay postage, I used it on a matter of principal. This is the first general election with 'free' postage, but I'm guessing I'll use the lock box again.

[appalachiablue]

53. Good move,

[ThoughtCriminal]

54. MOst of the time I take my ballot directly to the County Recorders office

They have an office with a drop box in my town (Arizona).

I can also verify online that my ballot was received.