Our Post Office visit today

[DonaldsRump]

We went to a Post Office today to renew our passports (as if that's any good these days ).

Anyways, these were about the nicest people ever. It took a bit of time mainly because of some form-filling mistakes we made, but the folks were so patient and kind. We mentioned that we supported them fully and were going to attend the Saturday protests. They were pleased, but they still seemed sad at what's going on.

After we finished, we bought TONS of stamps, greeting cards, and a roll of packing tape. I hope we've done a little bit to help the good people at USPS.

GET OUT THE VOTE AND GET THE VOTE IN!

[SheltieLover]

1. Please do not trust your ballot to USPS!

Check state laws for drop off locations, vote early in person. Please do not mail your ballot!

[Ms. Toad]

5. There's nothing wrong with mailing your ballot

That's what Trump hopes you'll think - because when we vote, we win. Too many people have good intentions, but just don't get the job done. Voting by mail is one way to counter dropping that ball.

Mail your ballot early.
Track your ballot on your state's website (most have them)
If it hasn't arrived, vote provisionally.

Dropping off your ballot is also fine - but please don't carry Trump's water for him by discouraging people from voting by mail.

[SheltieLover]

6. I am not "carrying trump's water for him"

Voting in person, or in states with drop boxes for ballots is safest to ensure vote counts.

Pre-tRump, MIT found 22% of ballots rejected. No, I don't have link, but this was posted here on DU recently.

This election is too important to entrust to the mess DeJoy has made of the usps!

[Ms. Toad]

7. Trump's entire strategy in encouraging DeJoy to destroy the USPS

Was to discourage voting by mail.

How is encouraging people not to vote by mail not carrying his water for him?

Vote by mail ballots are rejected at roughly the same rate as dropped off ballots. People don't follow the directions. The manner by which the ballot is delivered to the board of elections does not alter whether the voter complied with the requirements.

Early in-person voting is significantly different - that is more akin to voting in person. You don't have to properly fill out the ballot envelope (the stumbling block to acceptance.)

I'm not suggesting entrusting it to the mess DeJoy has made. I'm suggesting mailing your ballot early and confirming - prior to election day - (1) that your ballot has arrived and (2) that it has been accepted by counting. No trust involved at all. If it hasn't arrived, you vote provisionally (or in some states you don't even have to vote provisionally. That way you have preserved your vote - which will be counted if your mailed ballot does not arrive in time.

Encouraging people to vote in any of the ways that are available is great - just don't discourage them from a manner of voting that might garner us more votes - that's exactly what Trump is counting on.

[SheltieLover]

8. I've read DeJoy has downgraded ballots to bulk status

Therefore, they could potentially sit somewhere in a warehouse for who knows how long.

If mail-in is the only option, then go for it.

I would much rather personally ensure my vote is counted.

[Ms. Toad]

10. The potential change isn't over ballots returned to the board of elections,

it is to the bulk mailing of ballots to voters (which would equally impact drop-off voters and vote-by-mail). It has the potential to delay the delivery of ballots to voters - NOT - the delivery of completed ballots to the board of elections.

Most states have an online site to check the status of your ballot, so you have the ability to know in time to fix it if your ballot didn't arrive. You also know and have the ability to fix any errors in your ballot envelope (the reason for rejected ballots).

That ability to check pertains to both dropped off ballots and mailed ballots - so I'm not saying there's anything wrong with droping off your ballot.

I will probably vote early in person, since I work right around the corner from the Board of Elections. Early in person voting is pretty much identical ot the process of voting on election day - less risk of having your ballot rejected since you either use a machine to cast it or they generally confirm the signature and proper ballot completion while you are still there. My daughter will probably mail hers in (and check to confirm it has been received and is ready for counting). My spouse will probably either drop hers off or vote in person (again - she works close to the board of elections).

More options are better - I'm just really frustrated with the paranoia about mail-in-voting since it is exactly what Trump intended, and he no longer even has to ramble on about voter fraud since a bunch of us are now discouraging vote by mail.

[SheltieLover]

13. Perhaps

Voters who must vote by mail could try to pool their resources and ballots.

Stuff a lot of them in 1 Priority envelope or box, with recipient signature required.

I don't trust DeJoy or any tRumpers. Certainly not with my vote.

[Ms. Toad]

14. Most states would reject all of them.

As a general rule, ballots must be mailed by simple return mail - anything that requires the signature of the board of elections is generally not an acceptable way to return ballots. (Check with the rules of your state)

Ballot collecting and mass return is also generally prohibited becasue of the potential for fraud.

Voters who choose to vote by mail should just put the appropriate postage on it (generally 2 1st class stamps) and put it in the mai - and then check to make sure (1) it has arrived and (2) it has been accepted for counting.

It's that simple - and this paranoia is driving people to come up with schemes (like this one) that, in most instances, will result in the ballot(s) being rejected.

Voting by mail is an appropriate and safe choice - no one should be shamed into thinking that there is something wrong with voting by mail.

[SheltieLover]

16. I don't feel trusting DeJoy's dystopian system is wise

You are certainly welcome to your opinion.

[Ms. Toad]

17. You are not getting the point. There is NO trust required.

Most states have an electronic means of verifying that your ballot was recieved and accepted for counting. Use it (and that applies whether you mail your ballot in or drop it off).

There is nothing wrong with dropping off your ballot.

But PLEASE stop encouraging others to avoid voting by mail - that result is exactly the goal Trump is seeking (and definitely don't encourage doing things that are not permitted and will get their ballots rejected.

[SheltieLover]

18. I get it

[Salviati]

20. On the other hand, why overburden the system if you don't have to.

If you have the opportunity to vote early use a drop box why not make use of it, and leave the postal system less burdened for those who may not have the ability to exercise such options. If you do have to mail in a ballot, make sure you mail it as early as you possibly can, and know the election laws in your state. Make a plan to vote, don't just let it go until the last minute.

[Ms. Toad]

23. I'm not discouraging other options.

But neither should mail-in ballots be discouraged. It is the easiest means to vote in advance - and diminishing the number of mailed ballots is precisely Trump's goal - because all other means take more effort (and are less likely to be carried out.

We should not be assisting him in achieving his voter suppression goals.

[Hoyt]

40. +100000.

[Hoyt]

11. Exactly. Darn, are we are going to try to beat ourselves again?

Not only are we undermining the vote, after being told to vote by mail, but the 100+ threads on this are obscuring trump incompetence, CV19, Senate Russian Report, unemployment benefits, etc.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

22. Some states don't allow drop-off locations.

Others have no early voting.

[SheltieLover]

24. I know!

TN does not allow drop off of ballots anywhere, but does have early voting.

I'll vote early in person but if that were not an option, I would stand in line all day to vote chumputin out.

👍

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

37. Lucky me, New Mexico has both.

[SheltieLover]

38. Nice!

[CurtEastPoint]

2. I stopped our sub carrier today, pulled up next to him and gave him thumbs up and said,

"We love you all. We love our Postal Service. We got your back." He smiled broadly and said, 'Thank you, sir!"

[A HERETIC I AM]

3. As a guy who works for a US Mail Contractor, hauling intercity, I appreciate it.

I'm not a USPS employee, but I speak with and deal with them every day I work. The work done in the processing centers is what allows me to do what I do and pays my bills.

So on their behalf....(and a little bit mine....)


@~T H A N K S !!~@

[mr_lebowski]

4. And thank YOU, Mr. Trucker!

[SheltieLover]

9. TY!

[Hoyt]

12. Oh, USPS isn't supposed to use contractors. Haven't you heard?

[A HERETIC I AM]

25. Ummm...can you clarify?

I trust you are being tongue-in-cheek, but I'm not following the joke (if that was your intent)

Is there a news item or Trumpy quote I missed?

[Hoyt]

29. I'm for it, actually. But many others consider it "privatizing" the postal service.

Sorry, didn’t mean to sound critical of contractors. It’s an efficient way to run many agencies. For example, Medicare claims processing is contracted out to minimize the investment in systems, equipment, etc.

[A HERETIC I AM]

30. OK...but just to clarify what I do ....

and the numerous other companies that perform this task...


We haul the mail "Intercity", as opposed to "Intracity"

Example; (And please, any USPS workers who find I am not accurate, Please correct me!)

You place a letter, a birthday card for example, in your mailbox at the bottom of your driveway, addressed to your brother on the other side of your town. It gets picked up by your carrier who takes it back to his local post office - the post office assigned to and services YOUR zip code. Depending on the size of your metro area, it might get sorted there for its final destination, or go to a nearby "P&DC" or Processing and Distribution Center. It arrives at that building, is sorted down to the full 5 digits of zip code, is reloaded on a truck driven by a USPS employee, driven to the PO at the zip code of your brother and it never leaves the hands of USPS employees.

OR....

You place a letter, a birthday card for example, in your mailbox at the bottom of your driveway, addressed to your brother on the other side of the country. It gets picked up by your carrier who takes it back to his local post office where it gets sorted by the first 3 digits of the Zip Code and then is goes to a nearby P&DC. It arrives at that building, is sorted ONLY to the first 3 digits of the zip code, is loaded on a truck driven by a guy like me who will take it to the processing center near or in your town/city.

There are other steps that may apply, but this is a general idea.

The major difference is that the company I work for and others like it haul the mail BETWEEN cities and across country, not from one side of a city to the other.

[Hoyt]

39. Sounds perfect. But there are people who think " not for profit" contractors

should not be involved. The USPS, and most companies, agencies, etc., work better utilizing people who specialize in certain services.

[StClone]

15. I want to leave a gift for my postal carrier how do I do it?

I have a roadside box. I want to leave a word of encouragement too.

[TygrBright]

19. When I do holiday greetings I just leave it in the box with a note.

I did that for a couple of years, and the next year the doorbell rang and it was our letter carrier and she said "I'm glad you got a parcel today because it gives me an excuse to door-deliver and say thank you so much for the goodies!"

reminiscently,
Bright

[StClone]

21. Seems right, Thanks!

[A HERETIC I AM]

26. Leave the flag up.....

but make the package, letter or whatever VERY clear that it is not post but a private message to the carrier. Don't seal it, for instance.

Write in large letters "ATTENTION MAIL CARRIER! THIS IS FOR YOU!!" AND DO NOT MAKE IT LOOK LIKE IT WANTS TO BE MAILED. (sorry to shout!)


He/she will notice it. Don't put any postage on it (obviously) and your carrier will get the hint.

If you just want to leave a note of thanks or encouragement, then just place the written note in your mailbox without an envelope. They'll get it.

[StClone]

27. Do me a favor A HERETIC I AM and post the same reply at the link

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213936036

[A HERETIC I AM]

28. Done

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213936036#post3

[flibbitygiblets]

32. Very sweet thought. Note that there's a $20 max on gifts to postal workers

All postal employees, including carriers, must comply with the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch. Under these federal regulations, carriers are permitted to accept a gift worth $20 or less from a customer per occasion, such as Christmas.

[StClone]

35. Thanks for the 20 dollar limit-So Trump steal millions

And USPS workers are held to a higher standard. About right! Because they have a conscience.

[flibbitygiblets]

41. My rural postal carrier of the past 16 years told me about the rule

after the time I left her a $50 gift certificate at Christmas. She politely returned the gift card with a note thanking us for our generosity. She's always worked cheerfully and tirelessly, even keeps an eye on the neighborhood and checks in if she sees an unfamiliar car to make sure our home is safe. And yeah, she has more integrity in her little fingernail than trump has in his disgusting body.

PS-I saw your other post, and will leave a message on the thread link you left. Very kind of you!

[StClone]

36. Could you do me a favor and repost this?

At https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213936036

Thanks!

[Joinfortmill]

31. Awesome

[CTyankee]

33. We just got ours renewed. It took about 3 weeks longer than usual due to the shutdown.

Of course, now we are not welcome in the EU countries where I spent so much time researching art and artists. What I wouldn't give to see my beloved Florence or my beloved Paris again! It is a terrible loss.

[DonaldsRump]

34. Totally agreed.

Huge delay in getting renewals.

And, as you said, no one want us. I've personally had to cancel several international trips for 2020. I am really not sure when/if I will go again.

[CTyankee]

43. I am hopeful once Biden is in office. Not having American travelers must be a horrible

blow to their economies. Tourism alone must be suffering greatly. But Biden's presence as U.S. leader will be a strong reassurance. I have to believe that.

[DBoon]

42. Halloween is comng!

Get your young kids this costume:

https://store.usps.com/store/product/stamp-gifts/us-mail-carrier-toddlerkids-costume-P_842961