Friday, July 31, 2020

Can you trust all-mail balloting?

Lately there has been a lot in the news about all-mail balloting. You know what that is, don't you? 

The election commissions would mail out ballots to all the people on the voting rolls. Who would get ballots? Dead people. People who moved but never revoked their previous voter registration. People in jail. People who have become ineligible to vote because of convictions for certain crimes. Mentally-infirm voters.

Can you trust the Post Office to even deliver the ballots TO the voters or to deliver the completed ballots to the election commissions?

On Monday I mailed a Certified Letter to James Shadd, Chair of the Richland 2 School Board. It was mailed on July 27 in the afternoon, and my expectation was delivery on Tuesday, July 28, before that night's board meeting. By 11:04PM it had reached the USPS Regional Facility,
COLUMBIA SC PROCESSING CENTER.

Was it delivered on Tuesday, July 28? No.

July 29, 2020, 1:27 am
Departed USPS Regional Facility
COLUMBIA SC PROCESSING CENTER 

July 30, 2020
In Transit to Next Facility

July 31, 2020, 10:30 am
Delivered to Agent for Final Delivery
COLUMBIA, SC 29223 
Your item has been delivered to an agent for final delivery in COLUMBIA, SC 29223 on July 31, 2020 at 10:30 am.


What in the world is an "Agent"? Have the postal carriers been re-classified and given a raise? Do they work for Homeland Security now? Watch out. Here's comes a postage increase!

At least, it is now in the right ZIP Code for delivery to the District's office. Unfortunately, due to summer work hours there may be nobody at work today, and the "Agent" will have to return tomorrow and Monday. So, mailed on Monday; delivered the next Monday. Not bad, for $10.59.

Now what about your ballot that you decide to mail back? The one in the postage-paid envelope that will be sent with it (to avoid the "voter suppression" that Rep. Jim Clyburn talked about on July 10 with The State newspaper host). How certain can you be that your ballot will be delivered in time to be counted?