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Sunday, July 29, 2012

Election / The Weather Raining on Vote by Mail

Posted by Goldy on Sun, Jul 29, 2012 at 11:02 AM

Just filled out my ballot today, but had a little trouble sealing it in the security and outer envelopes. Turns out my ballot was delivered during a thunderstorm, and got a little soggy. Both of the two envelopes were sealed shut. I sliced them open as cleanly as I could, and glue-sticked them back closed. But they clearly look like they've been opened before, so I hope that doesn't spook anybody at the elections office.

Not a tragedy, but you know, it does rain out here, and mail does get wet. So maybe those self-adhesive envelopes would be a better idea?

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Comments (22) RSS

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They cost considerably more though. I can just imagine the gummint-wastes-our-money crowd screaming in pain at this extravagance.

Posted by Steven Bradford

on July 29, 2012 at 11:21 AM

Or maybe they could enclose the ballots in plastic bags... Oh, right. I forgot.

Posted by Brandon J. on July 29, 2012 at 11:29 AM

"it does rain out here."
1. really. who woulda thunk?
2. actually, in july? not so much.
3. maybe some things are too small and inconsequential to worry about? what it rains with most out here is microkvetching. "Well, if I put the rain barell there, it still wouldn't catch but 99% of the rain water coming off that roof"; "that cyclist, he was too agressive the way he didn't look at me"; "my vote by mail ballot got stuck, because it got soggy. why didn't king county elections *think* of that?"

Posted by slow opinion day? on July 29, 2012 at 11:56 AM

There was one minor primary about a year ago where they allowed web voting. It might have been initiatives only.

I used it and thought it was great. But I haven't seen that option yet again.

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on July 29, 2012 at 12:14 PM

Oh how I thank the gods for the opportunity to vote against Maria Cantwell and Greg Nichols and vote for Hong Tran, a real progressive (an incredibly shrinking minority in this town) for Superior Court Position #29.

Thank you....thank you....thank you.....(and do please vote for Doc Wilson for Senate and Hughes for Representative.

And Kathleen Drew for sec'y of state.

Posted by sgt_doom on July 29, 2012 at 12:26 PM

If you can't afford the $3.99 it costs to buy a bottle of white glue, maybe you don't deserve to vote!

Posted by Zebes

on July 29, 2012 at 12:43 PM

Instead of mailing the ballot, drop it off at your county elections office. It insures that the ballot really does arrive.

Posted by mr pinky on July 29, 2012 at 1:02 PM

Are you gonna post a fucking bible quote or not?

Posted by Fistique on July 29, 2012 at 1:06 PM

I see it now. My apologies.

Posted by Fistique on July 29, 2012 at 1:07 PM

My security envelope was stuck shut too. Completely dry when it was delivered though.

Posted by Bhamjason on July 29, 2012 at 1:33 PM

Try using a real adhesive, who the fuck glue sticks anything of importance? This isn't elementary school anymore.

Posted by HBUFDSHUDSHFUDSHFIUDS on July 29, 2012 at 2:11 PM

Maybe you should move to Florida or Ohio....then your vote wouldn't matter or be counted and then this would be of no concern to you or anyone else.

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on July 29, 2012 at 3:22 PM

ALSO - You are not required to use the security envelope. It is included for your benefit, to protect the privacy of your vote, but Elections will still process your ballot if you leave it out.

Everyone though, please remember to sign your freakin' envelope!

Posted by Anne18 on July 29, 2012 at 3:23 PM

I had a similar problem with my envelope a few years ago. I actually spilled a beer or something all over my ballot and envelope, it self-sealed, and I had to tear it open to get at it and vote it.

It absolutely looked tampered with, so I called the elections dept. phone number on the back of the envelope to ask them what I should do. They told me not to worry about it, just tape it up and mail it in, and the lady seemed downright horrified and personally offended at the suggestion that they might not count it.

Posted by Lack Thereof on July 29, 2012 at 4:18 PM

Mine was delivered this way as well, I didn't even connect it with the rain. I'm just dropping mine off at a ballot drop off location so there is no issues.

Posted by stuffandthings on July 29, 2012 at 4:57 PM

I wonder which of the two mail ballots I get at different addresses, despite notifying the Secretary of State and both Snohomish and King Counties, I should vote this year?

Posted by Reader01 on July 29, 2012 at 6:49 PM

What would really work quite well is what we did for years and years: go to our polling place.

Posted by sarah70 on July 29, 2012 at 6:49 PM

I voted a straight Stranger ticket! For a change - I usually make a few tweaks.

Posted by MarkyMark on July 29, 2012 at 7:05 PM

A shakedown ride on a new used bike to the ballot drop box in Magnuson Park was my excuse to get outside on this perfect day.

Posted by capicola on July 29, 2012 at 10:08 PM

Yeah, tragic. Wet ballot. Dang.

Remember back when your porn had to be delivered through rainstorms?! Holy crap, those days sucked. Depressing even to think about.

If only the same technology that put an end to that could be used for voting...

Posted by Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn