VOTER UPDATE: Strategies for Voting by Mail

THE PROBLEM

Over the last few years, policy changes at the United States Postal Service (USPS) have resulted in delays and disruptions that interfere with voters’ ability to vote by mail (absentee ballots). These problems are likely to increase this election season as voting by mail is under attack. Even if you haven’t had trouble in the past, don’t assume you’ll be fine now. Take action to protect your vote!

These changes include:

  • Recent changes to the USPS postmarking system — The postmark date may be considerably later than the date the letter arrives at your local post office. This does not affect Iowa voters since is the receipt date that matters. Ballots must be received at the Auditor’s Office by 4:30 p.m. on Election Day. However, warn your friends and family whose state uses the postmark date to determine whether their vote is counted.
  • New overtime rules — Restrictions on overtime are predicted to mean that some lower priority (rural) and high volume (large urban cities) areas may see partial or sporadic delivery.
  • The U.S. Supreme Court just ruled that no one can sue the USPS for refusing to deliver their mail, regardless of the reason. If there is an organized effort to target Democratic voters, this could seriously impact election results and voters would have no legal recourse.

SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS

If you can, voting early in person is the best option! See “Let’s Vote” for more information. But if you prefer or need to vote by mail, it is always true that earlier is better!

Track Your Absentee Ballot Here
Scenario 1: You will be in the area during early voting. Here are ways to minimize your dependence on the regular mail:
  • You or anyone you designate can deliver your signed Absentee Ballot Request Form to the Auditor’s Office on or after the first allowable date for submitting the form. To find that date, see the Let’s Vote page IMPORTANT DATES.
  • You or a family member can deliver your completed absentee ballot to the Auditor’s Office by the Monday before Election Day. Make sure the ballot envelope is signed by you and properly sealed so it won’t be flagged and rejected.
  • If Election Day arrives and you have a lost, unmailed, or damaged absentee ballot, you must go to your precinct polling place and have the poll workers help you vote a regular ballot.
Scenario 2: You can’t be in the area during early voting or on Election Day, but you have family nearby. Here is a way — albeit somewhat complicated — to minimize dependence on the regular mail:
  • Send your completed and signed Absentee Ballot Request Form to your family via Priority Mail.
  • On the Absentee Ballot Request Form, have your absentee ballot mailed to you at your family’s address. Shorter mailing distances using regular mail may reduce the risk of delays and disruptions.
  • Have your family deliver the request form to the Auditor’s Office, making sure it is not delivered before the first allowable date. To find that date, see the Let’s Vote page IMPORTANT DATES. Your family will also be told if they are delivering it too early.
  • Have your family send you your absentee ballot via Priority Mail.
  • Vote your ballot and place it in the official return envelope. Make sure the ballot envelope is signed and properly sealed so it will not be flagged and rejected.
  • Return your voted ballot to your family via Priority Mail.
  • Have your family deliver it to the Auditor’s Office ASAP. That way they will immediately find out if there is a problem and can notify you to request a replacement ballot.
  • Track your request form and ballot at every step.
    Scenario 3: You won’t be in the area and don’t have family nearby. Here is a similar way to minimize your use of the regular mail:
    • Mail your Absentee Ballot Request Form to the Auditor’s Office via Priority Mail, making sure it does not arrive before the first allowable date. To find that date, see the Let’s Vote page IMPORTANT DATES.
    • When you receive your ballot, fill it out and place it in the official ballot return envelope. Sign the envelope and properly seal it so it won’t be flagged and rejected.
    • Return it to the Auditor’s Office via Priority Mail. It must arrive in the Auditor’s Office by closing time on Election Day to be counted but earlier is better!
    • Track the ballot at every step.

    Why Take These Extra Steps?

    Some of these suggestions may seem extreme — particularly since your absentee ballot comes with a prepaid postage envelope. But our Voter Protection Team has heard too often from voters who never received their ballot, whose ballot arrived damaged, or who voted and mailed back their ballot only to learn that the envelope was unsigned, improperly sealed, or damaged in transit. In those cases, they had to request a replacement ballot that didn’t arrive in time.

    Spread the word in your community about this issue. Help protect the vote for yourself, your family, your neighbors, and all of Iowa’s voters.