Slog
News & ArtsFriday, October 26, 2012
2012 How Many Stamps Does It Take to Mail in My General Election Ballot?
Posted by Eli Sanders on Fri, Oct 26, 2012 at 6:00 AM
- E.S.
- That means one first class stamp, King County.
The instructions on your King County ballot return envelope are pretty clear. ("Affix first class stamp.") Still! We've been getting questions. So has the Secretary of State's office, and now it wants to lay those questions to rest with this handy chart of all the ballot return postage fees in all the counties in Washington State.
Spoiler alert: One first class stamp is all that's required if you're mailing your ballot in any county other than Franklin or Kitsap.
My favorite part of this chart, however, is the astersisk that takes you to this helpful bit of additional information: "Please note: This is the amount of postage if the voter returns the ballot, security envelope, and mailing envelope. If other materials are added, additional postage may be required."
I'd love to see the collection of "other materials" voters add to their ballots each year.
2
I thought you could just toss it in the mail postage free, because requiring postage is like a poll tax, which would be illegal... I mean, I put a stamp on mine just because I love the USPS, but I've always thought it was optional.
3
Those charts are too hard to understand, I still do not know how many stamps I need, or if I need one.
I also have all this water in my mouth, and I am not sure what to do about it. I mean I am kind of thirsty, but I just don't know what to do.
I also have all this water in my mouth, and I am not sure what to do about it. I mean I am kind of thirsty, but I just don't know what to do.
4
Or you can drop the ballot off at the elections office or county courthouse. No stamp required, no chance of the ballot getting lost in the mail. That's what I do.
5
Does Kitsapians just tape a couple quarters and three nickels to the ballot? Because that makes it heavier then what?
8
@3 - For the love of god, get that water out of your mouth (through the hole in front)! That's how people drown!
@5 - This raises an interesting question: how much does it cost to mail a coin? How many coins do you have to tape together before at least one gets to its intended recipient?
@5 - This raises an interesting question: how much does it cost to mail a coin? How many coins do you have to tape together before at least one gets to its intended recipient?
9
Wow! Voting is sooooo complicated in your country! Stamps! Envelopes! Numbers and words! I don't think I could ever figure it out. Never mind who (undecided!) to vote for.
It's probably just my hormones talking. I can barely decide which shoe to put on first.
It's probably just my hormones talking. I can barely decide which shoe to put on first.
12
@10 :O :(
Could I just see the codes? Just a little bit? Maybe just hold some of the controls?(they're SO big!) You could tell me all about your huge important job? It must be soooo hard being a super power!
Could I just see the codes? Just a little bit? Maybe just hold some of the controls?(they're SO big!) You could tell me all about your huge important job? It must be soooo hard being a super power!
15
Can't someone fire-up a petition to put return postage on these things? If the state can't afford it, maybe it would make a great sponsorship opportunity.
16
A first class stamp costs $0.45 if anyone else was wondering. I'm curious to know why it costs 20 cents more to vote in two of the counties. Do their ballots weigh more somehow?
17
@12 don't you worry your pretty little head about those codes, the men are here and we can handle it. You could probably handle getting me a refil on my coffee. Thanks, sugartits. (virtual slap on the ass)
18
@15, the seattle times could sponsor it, they're good at that kind of thing.
@16 two of the ballot measures are 182 page "choose your own adventures", they decide on parks funding.
@16 two of the ballot measures are 182 page "choose your own adventures", they decide on parks funding.
19
Wait...why is postage higher in Franklin and Kitsap Counties? Is it not still first-class domestic mail? Or is the ballot heavier?
20
The machines in Kitsap require heavier cardstock for the ballots. That and the number of measures/races on the ballot this year pushed it over the edge.
21
i have posted this before and i will pkst it again but after having worked in the phone bank that answers voters' calls i will not EVER put my ballot/voice in the hands of the USPS - i took FAR too many calls from folks who hadn't ever received their ballots in the first place, so assuming that my voted ("live" in elections parlance) ballot will safely get in on time via USPS is not acceptable IMHO. there are drop boxes located in various parts of the city and county for this election. also new for this election are king county elections vans that will be at different locations where people can drop off their ballot. the vans will be staffed by KCE personnel who have sworn an oath, and live ballots (in the hands of anyone @ KCE) are always escorted by armed sherriff.
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