IMPORTANT: Remember to put your mail-in ballot in the security envelope (Washington: law, title)

[thedirtypirate]

The PA supreme court ruled last week that the mail in ballot cannot just be in paid postage. It needs to be in the secrecy envelope within a normal envelope.

Once you fill out the ballot itself, you must place it inside the provided secrecy envelope, which contains no information about your identity. Then you put the sealed secrecy envelope inside a different postage-paid addressed return envelope, on which you have to sign your name and write your address.
If you forget the secrecy envelope — simply dropping your ballot in the ordinary return envelope — your ballot will be deemed a “naked ballot.” And, according to a recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling, election officials will have to throw it out.
The reason for the secrecy envelope, in theory, is to preserve the secret ballot and to prevent potential fraud. That is: once election officials receive the mail-in ballot, they use the outer envelope to verify that the person voting is registered and hasn’t already voted, without being able to see who the vote is for. Only later will the secrecy envelope actually be opened and counted.

https://www.vox.com/21452393/naked-b...crecy-envelope

[Redflag71]

I will be voting in the FLESH as always since I was able to VOTE

I never did a mail in vote because I like to vote in the FLESH

[thedirtypirate]

Originally Posted by Redflag71

I will be voting in the FLESH as always since I was able to VOTE

I never did a mail in vote because I like to vote in the FLESH

Honestly I regret even sending in for a mail in one. I did it for the primary for the first time, and it was pretty easy. However, given on the contention around this election, I wish I would have opted to go in person.

[leastprime]

In Washington, the "privacy" envelop is optional.

[thedirtypirate]

Originally Posted by leastprime

In Washington, the "privacy" envelop is optional.

It was until last week in Pennsylvania as well. However, the ruling handed down last week said ballots that are not properly completed and enveloped can be thrown out.


Of course, a new law could be made to say the privacy envelope is in fact optional, but there is a better chance for hell to freeze over before the GOP controlled PA legislation takes this up 5-6 weeks before the election.

[Muinteoir]

An important reminder. The slip in your title made me laugh though. It is a privacy envelope. The ballot is "naked" if it is not placed inside of that envelope.

[thedirtypirate]

Originally Posted by Muinteoir

An important reminder. The slip in your title made me laugh though. It is a privacy envelope. The ballot is "naked" if it is not placed inside of that envelope.

I know, I realized after I hit post and read it. Would edit it, but can't on this site.

[jtab4994]

Originally Posted by thedirtypirate

Honestly I regret even sending in for a mail in one. I did it for the primary for the first time, and it was pretty easy. However, given on the contention around this election, I wish I would have opted to go in person.

What? You can't change your mind and vote in person after requesting a mail-in ballot? Unless you are saying you've already mailed in your ballot?

[blazerj]

Originally Posted by Redflag71

I will be voting in the FLESH as always since I was able to VOTE

I never did a mail in vote because I like to vote in the FLESH

I like to vote like my POTUS. By mail!

[toobusytoday]

Originally Posted by jtab4994

What? You can't change your mind and vote in person after requesting a mail-in ballot? Unless you are saying you've already mailed in your ballot?

You can change your mind but it will be a PIA. You would take your mail in or absentee ballot (the whole thing, not just the ballot) to your precinct and have the judge of election declare it spoiled, and then you would be able to vote as you normally would in person. Alternatively, if you mail in your ballot or drop it off at a drop box but you see from checking here https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/p...ttracking.aspx that it has not been counted you can vote by a provisional ballot at your precinct. Provisional ballots will only be counted once it's been verified that your original mail in/absentee ballot was not counted.

My current plan is to take my mail in ballot and drop it off at a drop box the next town over from me as soon as I get it. Ballots should be mailed out in my county this weekend.

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