THOMAS J. MARsHALL Ge-EFW. CouNSEL NO ElcEoJnvE v,ce PREOOENT iir!J!I UNITED STJJTES l!':/ill POST/JL SERVICE July 29, 2020 Honorable John Thurston Arkansas Secretary of State 500 Woodlane Street Suite 12 Little Rock, AR 72201-1012 Dear Secretary Thurston: Re: Deadlines for Mailing Ballots With the 2020 General Election rapidly approaching, this letter follows up on my letter dated May 29, 2020, which I sent to election officials throughout the country. That letter highlighted some key aspects of the Postal Service's delivery processes. The purpose of this letter is to focus specifically on the deadlines for requesting and casting ballots by mail. In particular, we wanted to note that, under our reading of Arkansas's election laws, certain deadlines for requesting and casting mail-in ballots are incongruous with the Postal Service's delivery standards. This mismatch creates a risk that ballots requested near the deadline under state law will not be returned by mail in time to be counted under your laws as we understand them. As l stated in my May 29 letter, the two main classes of mail that are used for ballots are First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail, the latter of which includes the Nonprofit postage rate. Voters must use First-Class Mail (or an expedited level of service) to mail their ballots and ballot requests, while state or local election officials may generally use either First-Class Mail or Marketing Mail to mail blank ballots to voters. While the specific transit times for either class of mail cannot be guaranteed, and depend on factors such as a given mailpiece's place of origin and destination, most domestic First-Class Mail is delivered 2-5 days after it is received by the Postal Service, and most domestic Marketing Mail is delivered 3-10 days after it is received . To account for these delivery standards and to allow for contingencies (e.g., weather issues or unforeseen events), the Postal Service strongly recommends adhering to the following timeframe when using the mail to transmit ballots to domestic voters: • Ballot requests: Where voters will both receive and send a ballot by mail, voters should submit their ballot request early enough so that it is received by their election officials at least 15 days before Election Day at a minimum, and preferably long before that time. • Mailing blank ballots to voters: In responding to a ballot request, election officials should consider that the ballot needs to be in the hands of the voter so that he or she has adequate time to complete it and put it back in the mail stream so that it can be processed and delivered by the applicable deadline. Accordingly, the Postal Service recommends that election officials use First-Class Mail to transmit blank ballots and allow 1 week for delivery to voters. Using Marketing Mail will result in slower delivery times and will increase the risk that voters will not receive their ballots in time to return them by mail. 475 L'EN'ANT PI..AzA SW WASHNGTON DC 20260· 1100 Vh\/h\' I FAX: 202 268 6981 !f h \fe:, \• f h \f~ \-~Q www.usps.com -2- • Mailing completed ballots to election officials: To allow enough time for ballots to be returned to election officials, domestic voters should generally mail their completed ballots at least one week before the state's due date. So, if state law requires ballots to be returned by Election Day, voters should mail their ballots no later than Tuesday, October 27. Under our reading of your state's election laws, as in effect on July 27, 2020, certain state-law requirements and deadlines appear to be incompatible with the Postal Service's delivery standards and the recommended timeframe noted above. As a result, to the extent that the mail is used to transmit ballots to and from voters, there is a significant risk that, at least in certain circumstances, ballots may be requested in a manner that is consistent with your election rules and returned promptly, and yet not be returned in time to be counted. Specifically, it appears that a completed ballot must be received by Election Day to be counted. If that understanding is correct, we accordingly recommend, as noted above, that voters who choose to mail their ballots do so no later than Tuesday, October 27. However, it further appears that state law generally permits voters to request a ballot as late as 7 days before the election. If a voter submits a request at or near that deadline, and the ballot is transmitted to the voter by mail, there is a significant risk that the voter will not have sufficient time to complete and mail the completed ballot back to the election official in time for it to arrive by the state's return deadline. That risk is exacerbated by the fact that the law does not appear to impose a time period by which election officials must transmit a ballot to the voter in response to a request. To be clear, the Postal Service is not purporting to definitively interpret the requirements of your state's election laws, and also is not recommending that such laws be changed to accommodate the Postal Service's delivery standards. By the same token, however, the Postal Service cannot adjust its delivery standards to accommodate the requirements of state election law. For this reason, the Postal Service asks that election officials keep the Postal Service's delivery standards and recommendations in mind when making decisions as to the appropriate means used to send a piece of Election Mail to voters, and when informing voters how to successfully participate in an election where they choose to use the mail. It is particularly important that voters be made aware of the transit times for mail (including mail-in ballots) so that they can make informed decisions about whether and when to (1) request a mail-in ballot, and (2) mail a completed ballot back to election officials. We remain committed to sustaining the mail as a secure, efficient, and effective means to allow citizens to participate in the electoral process when election officials determine to utilize the mail as a part of their election system. Ensuring that you have an understanding of our operational capabilities and recommended timelines, and can educate voters accordingly, is important to achieving a successful election season. Please reach out to your assigned election mail coordinator to discuss the logistics of your mailings and the services that are available as well as any questions you may have. A list of election mail coordinators may be found on our website at: https://about.usps.com/election-mail/politicalelection-mail-coordinators.pdf. We hope the information contained in this letter is helpful, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Sincere! , (b)(6); (b)(3):39 USC 410 (c)(2) Thomas . rshall THOMAS J. MAAsHALL Geew. CouNSB.. NIJ ExEw!NE Vice PFESVENT iii!!!!§ UNITED STATES ~ POSTJJL SERVICE July 29, 2020 Honorable Micheal Adams Kentucky Secretary of State 700 Capitol Avenue, Suite 152 Frankfort, KY 40601-3490 Dear Secretary Adams: Re: Deadlines for Mailing Ballots With the 2020 General Election rapidly approaching, this letter follows up on my letter dated May 29, 2020, which I sent to election officials throughout the country. That letter highlighted some key aspects of the Postal Service's delivery processes. The purpose of this letter is to focus specifically on the deadlines for requesting and casting ballots by mail. In particular, we wanted to note that, under our reading of Kentucky's election laws, certain deadlines for requesting and casting mail-in ballots are incongruous with the Postal Service's delivery standards. This mismatch creates a risk that ballots requested near the deadline under state law will not be returned by mail in time to be counted under your laws as we understand them. As I stated in my May 29 letter, the two main classes of mail that are used for ballots are First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail, the latter of which includes the Nonprofit postage rate. Voters must use First-Class Mail (or an expedited level of service) to mail their ballots and ballot requests, while state or local election officials may generally use either First-Class Mail or Marketing Mail to mail blank ballots to voters. While the specific transit times for either class of mail cannot be guaranteed, and depend on factors such as a given mailpiece's place of origin and destination, most domestic First-Class Mail is delivered 2-5 days after it is received by the Postal Service, and most domestic Marketing Mail is delivered 3-10 days after it is received. To account for these delivery standards and to allow for contingencies (e.g., weather issues or unforeseen events), the Postal Service strongly recommends adhering to the following timeframe when using the mail to transmit ballots to domestic voters: • Ballot requests: Where voters will both receive and send a ballot by mail, voters should submit their ballot request early enough so that it is received by their election officials at least 15 days before Election Day at a minimum, and preferably long before that time. • Mailing blank ballots to voters: In responding to a ballot request, election officials should consider that the ballot needs to be in the hands of the voter so that he or she has adequate time to complete it and put it back in the mail stream so that it can be processed and delivered by the applicable deadline. Accordingly, the Postal Service recommends that election officials use First-Class Mail to tiransmit blank ballots and allow 1 week for delivery to voters. Using Marketing Mail will result in slower delivery times and will increase the risk that voters will not receive their ballots in time to return them by mail. 475L'~~sw WJ.SHNGTON DC 20260-1100 Kb)(6); (b)(3):39 FAX: 202-268-6981 i(b)(6): (b)(3):39 www.usps.com -2- • Mailing completed ballots to election officials: To allow enough time for ballots to be returned to election officials, domestic voters should generally mail their completed ballots at least one week before the state's due date. So, if state law requires ballots to be returned by Election Day, voters should mail their ballots no later than Tuesday, October 27. Under our reading of your state's election laws, as in effect on July 27, 2020, certain state-law requirements and deadlines appear to be incompatible with the Postal Service's delivery standards and the recommended timeframe noted above. As a result, to the extent that the mail is used to transmit ballots to and from voters, there is a significant risk that, at least in certain circumstances, ballots may be requested in a manner that is consistent with your election rules and returned promptly, and yet not be returned in time to be counted. Specifically, it appears that a completed ballot must be received by Election Day to be counted. If that understanding is correct, we accordingly recommend, as noted above, that voters who choose to mail their ballots do so no later than Tuesday, October 27. However, it further appears that state law generally permits voters to request a ballot as late as 7 days before the November general election. If a voter submits a request at or near that deadline, and the ballot is transmitted to the voter by mail, there is a significant risk that the voter will not have sufficient time to complete and mail the completed ballot back to election officials in time for it to arrive by the state's return deadline. That risk is exacerbated by the fact that the law does not appear to require election officials to transmit a ballot until 3 days after receiving a ballot request. To be clear, the Postal Service is not purporting to definitively interpret the requirements of your state's election laws, and also is not recommending that such laws be changed to accommodate the Postal Service's delivery standards. By the same token, however, the Postal Service cannot adjust its delivery standards to accommodate the requirements of state election law. For this reason, the Postal Service asks that election officials keep the Postal Service's delivery standards and recommendations in mind when making decisions as to the appropriate means used to send a piece of Election Mail to voters, and when informing voters how to successfully participate in an election where they choose to use the mail. It is particularly important that voters be made aware of the transit times for mail (including mail-in ballots) so that they can make informed decisions about whether and when to (1) request a mail-in ballot, and (2) mail a completed ballot back to election officials. We remain committed to sustaining the mail as a secure, efficient, and effective means to allow citizens to participate in the electoral process when election officials determine to utilize the mail as a part of their election system. Ensuring that you have an understanding of our operational capabilities and recommended timelines, and can educate voters accordingly, is important to achieving a successful election season. Please reach out to your assigned election mail coordinator to discuss the logistics of your mailings and the services that are available as well as any questions you may have. A list of election mail coordinators may be found on our website at: https://about.usps.com/election-mail/politicalelection-mail-coordinators.pdf. We hope the information contained in this letter is helpful, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. (b)(6); (b)(3):39 USC 410 (c)(2) THOMAS J. MARSHALL Ge.ew.CouNsa. A1-E ElcECVTIVE VICE f>RESIOENT ii.:!!!!f!I UNITEDSTIJTES l!'1iitlll POST/JL SERVICE July 29, 2020 Honorable Kyle Ardoin Louisiana Secretary of State P.O. Box 94125 Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125 Dear Secretary Ardoin: Re: Deadlines for Mailing Ballots With the 2020 General Election rapidly approaching, this letter follows up on my letter dated May 29, 2020 , which I sent to election officials throughout the country. That letter highlighted some key aspects of the Postal Service's delivery processes. The purpose of this letter is to focus specifically on the deadlines for requesting and casting ballots by mail. In particular, we wanted to note that, under our reading of Louisiana's election laws, certain deadlines for requesting and casting mail-in ballots are incongruous with the Postal Service's delivery standards. This mismatch creates a risk that ballots requested near the deadline under state law will not be returned by mail in time to be counted under your laws as we understand them. As I stated in my May 29 letter, the two main classes of mail that are used for ballots are First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail, the latter of which includes the Nonprofit postage rate. Voters must use First-Class Mail (or an expedited level of service) to mail their ballots and ballot requests, while state or local election officials may generally use either First-Class Mail or Marketing Mail to mail blank ballots to voters. W hile the specific transit times for either class of mail cannot be guaranteed, and depend on factors such as a given mailpiece's place of origin and destination, most domestic First-Class Mail is delivered 2-5 days after it is received by the Postal Service, and most domestic Marketing Mail is delivered 3-10 days after it is received. To account for these delivery standards and to allow for contingencies (e.g. , weather issues or unforeseen events), the Postal Service strongly recommends adhering to the following timeframe when using the mail to transmit ballots to domestic voters: • Ballot requests: Where voters will both receive and send a ballot by mail, voters should submit their ballot request early enough so that it is received by their election officials at least 15 days before Election Day at a minimum, and preferably long before that time. • Mailing blank ballots to voters: In responding to a ballot request, election officials should consider that the ballot needs to be in the hands of the voter so that he or she has adequate time to complete it and put it back in the mail stream so that it can be processed and delivered by the applicable deadline. Accordingly, the Postal Service recommends that election officials use First-Class Mail to tiransmit blank ballots and allow 1 week for delivery to voters. Using Marketing Mail will result in slower delivery times and will increase the risk that voters will not receive their ballots in time to return them by mail. 475 l'ENFANT PL-WI SW WASHINGTON DC 20260 1100 !(b)(6): (b )(3):39 ! FM 202 268 6981 l(b)(6): (b)(3):39 USC www.usps.com I -2- • Mailing completed ballots to election officials: To allow enough time for ballots to be returned to election officials, domestic voters should generally mail their completed ballots at least one week before the state's due date. So, if state law requires ballots to be returned by the day before Election Day, voters should mail their ballots no later than Monday, October 26. Under our reading of your state's election laws, as in effect on July 27, 2020, certain state-law requirements and deadlines appear to be incompatible with the Postal Service's delivery standards and the recommended timeframe noted above. As a result, to the extent that the mail is used to transmit ballots to and from voters, there is a significant risk that, at least in certain circumstances, ballots may be requested in a manner that is consistent with your election rules and returned promptly, and yet not be returned in time to be counted. Specifically, it appears that a completed ballot must be received by the day before Election Day to be counted. If that understanding is correct, we accordingly recommend, as noted above, that voters who choose to mail their ballots do so no later than Monday, October 26. However, it further appears that state law generally permits voters to request a ballot as late as 4 days before the election. If a voter submits such a request at or near that deadline, and if the requested ballot is transmitted to the voter by mail, there is a significant risk that the ballot will not reach the voter before Election Day, and accordingly that the voter will not be able to use the ballot to cast his or her vote. Even if a voter receives a ballot before Election Day, there is a significant risk that the voter will not have sufficient time to complete and mail the completed ballot back to election officials in time for it to arrive by the state's return deadline. That risk is exacerbated by the fact that the law does not appear to impose a time period by which election officials must transmit a ballot to the voter in response to a request. To be clear, the Postal Service is not purporting to definitively interpret the requirements of your state's election laws, and also is not recommending that such laws be changed to accommodate the Postal Service's delivery standards. By the same token, however, the Postal Service cannot adjust its delivery standards to accommodate the requirements of state election law. For this reason, the Postal Service asks that election officials keep the Postal Service's delivery standards and recommendations in mind when making decisions as to the appropriate means used to send a piece of Election Mail to voters, and when informing voters how to successfully participate in an election where they choose to use the mail. It is particularly important that voters be made aware of the transit times for mail (including mail-in ballots) so that they can make informed decisions about whether and when to (1) request a mail-in ballot, and (2) mail a completed ballot back to election officials. We remain committed to sustaining the mail as a secure, efficient, and effective means to allow citizens to participate in the electoral process when election officials determine to utilize the mail as a part of their election system. Ensuring that you have an understanding of our operational capabilities and recommended timelines, and can educate voters accordingly, is important to achieving a successful election season. Please reach out to your assigned election mail coordinator to discuss the logistics of your mailings and the services that are available as well as any questions you may have. A list of election mail coordinators may be found on our website at: https://about.usps.com/election-mail/politicalelection-mail-coordinators.pdf. We hope the information contained in this letter is helpful, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Sincerely, b)(6); (b)(3):39 USC 410 (c)(2) THOMAS J. MAflsHALL GENERAi. Co.JNSB. NCO ExECUTM: V'Cif. PRESOENT ~ UNITEDST/JTES ~ POST/JL SERVICE July 29, 2020 Honorable Matt Dunlap Maine Secretary of State 148 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0148 Dear Secretary Dunlap: Re: Deadlines for Mailing Ballots With the 2020 General Election rapidly approaching, this letter follows up on my letter dated May 29, 2020, which I sent to election officials throughout the country. That letter highlighted some key aspects of the Postal Service's delivery processes. The purpose of this letter is to focus specifically on the deadlines for requesting and casting ballots by mail. In particular, we wanted to note that, under our reading of Maine's election laws, certain deadlines for requesting and casting mail-in ballots are incongruous with the Postal Service's delivery standards. This mismatch creates a risk that ballots requested near the deadline under state law will not be returned by mail in time to be counted under your laws as we understand them. As I stated in my May 29 letter, the two main classes of mail that are used for ballots are First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail, the latter of which includes the Nonprofit postage rate. Voters must use First-Class Mail (or an expedited level of service) to mail their ballots and ballot requests, while state or local election officials may generally use either First-Class Mail or Marketing Mail to mail blank ballots to voters. While the specific transit times for either class of mail cannot be guaranteed, and depend on factors such as a given mailpiece's place of origin and destination, most domestic First-Class Mail is delivered 2-5 days after it is received by the Postal Service, and most domestic Marketing Mail is delivered 3-10 days after it is received. To account for these delivery standards and to allow for contingencies (e.g., weather issues or unforeseen events), the Postal Service strongly recommends adhering to the following timeframe when using the mail to transmit ballots to domestic voters: • Ballot requests: Where voters will both receive and send a ballot by mail, voters should submit their ballot request early enough so that it is received by their election officials at least 15 days before Election Day at a minimum, and preferably long before that time. • Mailing blank ballots to voters: In responding to a ballot request, election officials should consider that the ballot needs to be in the hands of the voter so that he or she has adequate time to complete it and put it back in the mail stream so that it can be processed and delivered by the applicable deadline. Accordingly, the Postal Service recommends that election officials use First-Class Mail to transmit blank ballots and allow 1 week for delivery to voters. Using Marketing Mail will result in slower delivery times and will increase the risk that voters will not receive their ballots in time to return them by mail. 475 L'El'EANT f'l.AzA SW W,&tNGTr»I DC 20260 1100 !fh\fn\· f h \f~\•~q FAX: 202·268 6981 kb)(6): (b)(3):39 www.usps.com -2- • Mailing completed ballots to election officials: To allow enough time for ballots to be returned to election officials, domestic voters should generally mail their completed ballots at least one week before the state's due date. So, if state law requires ballots to be returned by Election Day, voters should mail their ballots no later than Tuesday, October 27. Under our reading of your state's election laws, as in effect on July 27, 2020, certain state-law requirements and deadlines appear to be incompatible with the Postal Service's delivery standards and the recommended timeframe noted above. As a result, to the extent that the mail is used to transmit ballots to and from voters, there is a significant risk that, at least in certain circumstances, ballots may be requested in a manner that is consistent with your election rules and returned promptly, and yet not be returned in time to be counted. Specifically, it appears that a completed ballot must be received by Election Day to be counted. If that understanding is correct, we accordingly recommend, as noted above, that voters who choose to mail their ballots do so no later than Tuesday, October 27. However, it further appears that state law generally permits voters to request a ballot as late as the 3rd business day before the election. If a voter submits such a request at or near that deadline, and if the requested ballot is transmitted to the voter by mail , there is a significant risk that the ballot will not reach the voter before Election Day, and accordingly that the voter will not be able to use the ballot to cast his or her vote. Even if a voter receives a ballot before Election Day, there is a significant risk that the voter will not have sufficient time to complete and mail the completed ballot back to election officials in time for it to arrive by the state's return deadline. That risk is exacerbated by the fact that the law does not appear to impose a time period by which election officials must transmit a ballot to the voter in response to a request. To be clear, the Postal Service is not purporting to definitively interpret the requirements of your state's election laws, and also is not recommending that such laws be changed to accommodate the Postal Service's delivery standards. By the same token, however, the Postal Service cannot adjust its delivery standards to accommodate the requirements of state election law. For this reason, the Postal Service asks that election officials keep the Postal Service's delivery standards and recommendations in mind when making decisions as to the appropriate means used to send a piece of Election Mail to voters, and when informing voters how to successfully participate in an election where they choose to use the mail. It is particularly important that voters be made aware of the transit times for mail (including mail-in ballots) so that they can make informed decisions about whether and when to ( 1) request a mail-in ballot, and (2) mail a completed ballot back to e lection officials. We remain committed to sustaining the mail as a secure, efficient, and effective means to allow citizens to participate in the electoral process when election officials determine to utilize the mail as a part of their election system. Ensuring that you have an understanding of our operational capabilities and recommended timelines, and can educate voters accordingly, is important to achieving a successful election season. Please reach out to your assigned election mail coordinator to discuss the logistics of your mailings and the services that are available as well as any questions you may have. A list of election mail coordinators may be found on our website at: https://about.usps.com/election-mail/politicalelection-mail-coordinators.pdf. We hope the information contained in this letter is helpful, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Sincerely, (b)(6); (b)(3):39 USC 410 (c)(2) Thomas J M shall THOMAS J. MAAsHALL GENERAL CovNsa N'ID ExEcvllvE VICE f'AESIOENT iir!l!!fl UNITED ST/JTES ~ POST/JL SERVICE July 29, 2020 Honorable Robert Evnen Nebraska Secretary of State 1445 K Street, Suite 2300 Lincoln, NE 68508-2731 Dear Secretary Evnen: Re: Deadlines for Mailing Ballots With the 2020 General Election rapidly approaching, this letter follows up on my letter dated May 29, 2020, which I sent to election officials throughout the country. That letter highlighted some key aspects of the Postal Service's delivery processes. The purpose of this letter is to focus specifically on the deadlines for requesting and casting ballots by mail. In particular, we wanted to note that, under our reading of Nebraska's election laws, certain deadlines for requesting and casting mail-in ballots are incongruous with the Postal Service's delivery standards. This mismatch creates a risk that ballots requested near the deadline under state law will not be returned by mail in time to be counted under your laws as we understand them. As I stated in my May 29 letter, the two main classes of mail that are used for ballots are First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail, the latter of which includes the Nonprofit postage rate. Voters must use First-Class Mail (or an expedited level of service) to mail their ballots and ballot requests, while state or local election officials may generally use either First-Class Mail or Marketing Mail to mail blank ballots to voters. While the specific transit times for either class of mail cannot be guaranteed, and depend on factors such as a given mailpiece's place of origin and destination , most domestic First-Class Mail is delivered 2-5 days after it is received by the Postal Service, and most domestic Marketing Mail is delivered 3-10 days after it is received. To account for these delivery standards and to allow for contingencies (e.g., weather issues or unforeseen events), the Postal Service strongly recommends adhering to the following timeframe when using the mail to transmit ballots to domestic voters: • Ballot requests: Where voters will both receive and send a ballot by mail, voters should submit their ballot request early enough so that it is received by their election officials at least 15 days before Election Day at a minimum, and preferably long before that time. • Mailing blank ballots to voters: In responding to a ballot request, election officials should consider that the ballot needs to be in the hands of the voter so that he or she has adequate time to complete it and put it back in the mail stream so that it can be processed and delivered by the applicable deadline. Accordingly, the Postal Service recommends that election officials use First-Class Mail to transmit blank ballots and allow 1 week for delivery to voters. Using Marketing Mail w ill result in slower delivery times and will increase the risk that voters will not receive their ballots in time to return them by mail. 475 L'&.Fmr PlRA SW WASHNGTON DC 20260-1100 kb)(6): (b)(3):39 FAX: 202-268 6981 l(b)(6); (b)(3):39 www.usps .com -2- • Mailing completed ballots to election officials: To allow enough time for ballots to be returned to election officials, domestic voters should generally mail their completed ballots at least one week before the state's due date. So, if state law requires ballots to be returned by Election Day, voters should mail their ballots no later than Tuesday, October 27. Under our reading of your state's election laws, as in effect on July 27, 2020, certain state-law requirements and deadlines appear to be incompatible with the Postal Service's delivery standards and the recommended timeframe noted above. As a result, to the extent that the mail is used to transmit ballots to and from voters, there is a significant risk that, at least in certain circumstances, ballots may be requested in a manner that is consistent with your election rules and returned promptly, and yet not be returned in time to be counted . Specifically, it appears that a completed ballot must be received by Election Day to be counted. If that understanding is correct, we accordingly recommend, as noted above, that voters who choose to mail their ballots do so no later than Tuesday, October 27. However, it further appears that state law generally permits voters to request a ballot as late as 11 days before the November general election. If a voter submits a request at or near that deadline, and the ballot is transmitted to the voter by mail, there is a significant risk that the voter will not have sufficient time to complete and mail the completed ballot back to election officials in time for it to arrive by the state's return deadline. That risk is exacerbated by the fact that the law does not appear to impose a time period by which election officials must transmit a ballot to the voter in response to a request. To be clear, the Postal Service is not purporting to definitively interpret the requirements of your state's election laws, and also is not recommending that such laws be changed to accommodate the Postal Service's delivery standards. By the same token, however, the Postal Service cannot adjust its delivery standards to accommodate the requirements of state election law. For this reason, the Postal Service asks that election officials keep the Postal Service's delivery standards and recommendations in mind when making decisions as to the appropriate means used to send a piece of Election Mail to voters, and when informing voters how to successfully participate in an election where they choose to use the mail. It is particularly important that voters be made aware of the transit times for mail (including mail-in ballots) so that they can make informed decisions about whether and when to (1) request a mail-in ballot, and (2) mail a completed ballot back to election officials. We remain committed to sustaining the mail as a secure, efficient, and effective means to allow citizens to participate in the electoral process when election officials determine to utilize the mail as a part of their election system. Ensuring that you have an understanding of our operational capabilities and recommended timelines, and can educate voters accordingly, is important to achieving a successful election season. Please reach out to your assigned election mail coordinator to discuss the logistics of your mailings and the services that are available as well as any questions you may have. A list of election mail coordinators may be found on our website at: https://about.usps.com/election-mail/politicalelection-mail-coordinators.pdf. We hope the information contained in this letter is helpful, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Sincerely, (b)(6); (b)(3):39 USC 410 (c)(2) THOMAS J. MARSHALL Ga-EFW. CouNSEL NV ExEaJnvE Via: PRESIOENT .=!lf!!I UNITEDSTJJ.TES ~ POSTIJL SERVICE July 29, 2020 Honorable Laurel M. Lee Florida Secretary of State R.A. Gray Building 500 S. Bronough Street, Suite 100 Tallahassee, FL 32399-6504 Dear Secretary Lee: Re: Deadlines for Mailing Ballots With the 2020 General Election rapidly approaching, this letter follows up on my letter dated May 29, 2020, which I sent to election officials throughout the country. That letter highlighted some key aspects of the Postal Service's delivery processes. The purpose of this letter is to focus specifically on the deadlines for requesting and casting ballots by mail. In particular, we wanted to note that, under our reading of Florida's election laws, certain deadlines for requesting and casting mail-in ballots are incongruous with the Postal Service's delivery standards. This mismatch creates a risk that ballots requested near the deadline under state law will not be returned by mail in time to be counted under your laws as we understand them. As I stated in my May 29 letter, the two main classes of mail that are used for ballots are First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail, the latter of which includes the Nonprofit postage rate. Voters must use First-Class Mail (or an expedited level of service) to mail their ballots and ballot requests, while state or local election officials may generally use either First-Class Mail or Marketing Mail to mail blank ballots to voters. While the specific transit times for either class of mail cannot be guaranteed, and depend on factors such as a given mailpiece's place of origin and destination, most domestic First-Class Mail is delivered 2-5 days after it is received by the Postal Service, and most domestic Marketing Mail is delivered 3-10 days after it is received. To account for these delivery standards and to allow for contingencies (e.g., weather issues or unforeseen events), the Postal Service strongly recommends adhering to the following timeframe when using the mail to transmit ballots to domestic voters: • Ballot requests: Where voters will both receive and send a ballot by mail, voters should submit their ballot request early enough so that it is received by their election officials at least 15 days before Election Day at a minimum, and preferably long before that time. • Mailing blank ballots to voters: In responding to a ballot request, election officials should consider that the ballot needs to be in the hands of the voter so that he or she has adequate time to complete it and put it back in the mail stream so that it can be processed and delivered by the applicable deadline. Accordingly, the Postal Service recommends that election officials use First-Class Mail to transmit blank ballots and allow 1 week for delivery to voters. Using Marketing Mail will result in slower delivery times and will increase the risk that voters will not receive their ballots in time to return them by mail. 475 L'&.FANT F'LAzA SW W!oSHNGT~ DC 202601100 kb)(6): (b)(3):39 FAX: 202-268 6981 l(b)(6): (b)(3):39 USC www.usps com I -2- • Mailing completed ballots to election officials: To allow enough time for ballots to be returned to election officials, domestic voters should generally mail their completed ballots at least one week before the state's due date. So, if state law requires ballots to be returned by Election Day, voters should mail their ballots no later than Tuesday, October 27. Under our reading of your state's election laws, as in effect on July 27, 2020, certain state-law requirements and deadlines appear to be incompatible with the Postal Service's delivery standards and the recommended timeframe noted above. As a result, to the extent that the mail is used to transmit ballots to and from voters, there is a significant risk that, at least in certain circumstances, ballots may be requested in a manner that is consistent with your election rules and returned promptly, and yet not be returned in time to be counted. Specifically, it appears that a completed ballot must be received by Election Day to be counted. If that understanding is correct, we accordingly recommend, as noted above, that voters who choose to mail their ballots do so no later than Tuesday, October 27. However, it further appears that state law generally permits voters to request a ballot as late as 10 days before the election. If a voter submits a request at or near that deadline, and the ballot is transmitted to the voter by mail, there is a significant risk that the voter will not have sufficient time to complete and mail the completed ballot back to election officials in time for it to arrive by the state's return deadline. That risk is exacerbated by the fact that the law appears to allow election officials to mail a ballot to voters until 8 days before the election. To be clear, the Postal Service is not purporting to definitively interpret the requirements of your state's election laws, and also is not recommending that such laws be changed to accommodate the Postal Service's delivery standards. By the same token, however, the Postal Service cannot adjust its delivery standards to accommodate the requirements of state election law. For this reason, the Postal Service asks that election officials keep the Postal Service's delivery standards and recommendations in mind when making decisions as to the appropriate means used to send a piece of Election Mail to voters, and when informing voters how to successfully participate in an election where they choose to use the mail. It is particularly important that voters be made aware of the transit times for mail (including mail-in ballots) so that they can make informed decisions about whether and when to (1) request a mail-in ballot, and (2) mail a completed ballot back to election officials. We remain committed to sustaining the mail as a secure, efficient, and effective means to allow citizens to participate in the electoral process when election officials determine to utilize the mail as a part of their election system. Ensuring that you have an understanding of our operational capabilities and recommended timelines, and can educate voters accordingly, is important to achieving a successful election season . Please reach out to your assigned election mail coordinator to discuss the logistics of your mailings and the services that are available as well as any questions you may have. A list of election mail coordinators may be found on our website at: https://about.usps.com/election-mail/politicalelection-mail-coordinators.pdf. We hope the information contained in this letter is helpful, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Sincere! , b)(6); (b)(3):39 USC 410 (c)(2) Thomas J M shall THOMAS J. MARSHALL Geaw. CouNSB. N-0 ExeamvE V,ce f'ReSllENT ;.=t!§ UNITED ST.llTES II!/:.. POST.Ill SERVICE July 29, 2020 Honorable John Merrill Alabama Secretary of State State Capitol 600 Dexter Avenue Montgomery, AL 36130-3021 Dear Secretary Merrill: Re: Deadlines for Mailing Ballots With the 2020 General Election rapidly approaching, this letter follows up on my letter dated May 29, 2020, which I sent to election officials throughout the country. That letter highlighted some key aspects of the Postal Service's delivery processes. The purpose of this letter is to focus specifically on the deadlines for requesting and casting ballots by mail. In particular, we wanted to note that, under our reading of Alabama's election laws, certain deadlines for requesting and casting mail-in ballots are incongruous with the Postal Service's delivery standards. This mismatch creates a risk that ballots requested near the deadline under state law will not be returned by mail in time to be counted under your laws as we understand them. As I stated in my May 29 letter, the two main classes of mail that are used for ballots are First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail, the latter of which includes the Nonprofit postage rate. Voters must use First-Class Mail (or an expedited level of service) to mail their ballots and ballot requests, while state or local election officials may generally use either First-Class Mail or Marketing Mail to mail blank ballots to voters. While the specific transit times for either class of mail cannot be guaranteed, and depend on factors such as a given mailpiece's place of origin and destination, most domestic First-Class Mail is delivered 2-5 days after it is received by the Postal Service, and most domestic Marketing Mail is delivered 3-10 days after it is received. To account for these delivery standards and to allow for contingencies (e.g., weather issues or unforeseen events), the Postal Service strongly recommends adhering to the following timeframe when using the mail to transmit ballots to domestic voters: • Ballot requests: Where voters will both receive and send a ballot by mail, voters should submit their ballot request early enough so that it is received by their election officials at least 15 days before Election Day at a minimum, and preferably long before that time. • Mailing blank ballots to voters: In responding to a ballot request, election officials should consider that the ballot needs to be in the hands of the voter so that he or she has adequate time to complete it and put it back in the mail stream so that it can be processed and delivered by the applicable deadline. Accordingly, the Postal Service recommends that election officials use First-Class Mail to transmit blank ballots and allow 1 week for delivery to voters. Using Marketing Mail will result in slower delivery times and will increase the risk that voters will not receive their ballots in time to return them by mail. 475 l'Er-FANT PlRA SW WASHINGTON DC 20260-1100 kb)(6) : (b)(3):39 FAX 202-268-6981 kb)(6): (b )(3):39 www.usps.com -2- • Mailing completed ballots to election officials: To allow enough time for ballots to be returned to election officials, domestic voters should generally mail their completed ballots at least one week before the state's due date. So, if state law requires ballots to be returned by Election Day, voters should mail their ballots no later than Tuesday, October 27. Under our reading of your state's election laws, as in effect on July 27, 2020, certain state-law requirements and deadlines appear to be incompatible with the Postal Service's delivery standards and the recommended timeframe noted above. As a result, to the extent that the mail is used to transmit ballots to and from voters, there is a significant risk that, at least in certain circumstances, ballots may be requested in a manner that is consistent w ith your election rules and returned promptly, and yet not be returned in time to be counted. Specifically, it appears that a voter may generally request a ballot as late as 5 days before the election, and that a completed ballot must be postmarked no later than the day before the election and received by Election Day to be counted. If a voter submits such a request at or near that deadline, and if the requested ballot is transmitted to the voter by mail, there is a significant risk that the ballot will not reach the voter before Election Day, and accordingly that the voter will not be able to use the ballot to cast his or her vote. Even if a voter receives a ballot before Election Day, there is a significant risk that the voter will not have sufficient time to complete and mail the completed ballot back to election officials in time for it to arrive by the state's return deadline. That risk is exacerbated by the fact that the law does not appear to require election officials to transmit a ballot until one business day after receiving a ballot application. Also, please note that, given the delivery standards for First-Class Mail, there is a very high likelihood that completed ballots postmarked on or close to the state's postmark deadline of November 2 will not be delivered in time to meet the state's receipt deadline of November 3. As noted above, voters who choose to mail their ballots should do so no later than October 27. To be clear, the Postal Service is not purporting to definitively interpret the requirements of your state's election laws, and also is not recommending that such laws be changed to accommodate the Postal Service's delivery standards. By the same token, however, the Postal Service cannot adjust its delivery standards to accommodate the requirements of state election law. For this reason, the Postal Service asks that election officials keep the Postal Service's delivery standards and recommendations in mind when making decisions as to the appropriate means used to send a piece of Election Mail to voters, and when informing voters how to successfully participate in an election where they choose to use the mail. It is particularly important that voters be made aware of the transit times for mail (including mail-in ballots) so that they can make informed decisions about whether and when to (1 ) request a mail-in ballot, and (2) mail a completed ballot back to election officials. We remain committed to sustaining the mail as a secure, efficient, and effective means to allow citizens to participate in the electoral process when election officials determine to utilize the mail as a part of their election system. Ensuring that you have an understanding of our operational capabilities and recommended timelines, and can educate voters accordingly, is important to achieving a successful election season. Please reach out to your assigned election mail coordinator to discuss the logistics of your mailings and the services that are available as well as any questions you may have. A list of election mail coordinators may be found on our website at: https://about.usps.com/election-mail/politicalelection-mail-coordinators.pdf. We hope the information contained in this letter is helpful, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. (b)(6); (b)(3):39 USC 410 (c)(2) Thomas THOMAS J. MAAsHALL GENERAL CooNSB.. 1'J,D ~ ElSHl-¥3TON DC 20260 1100 kb)(6): (b)(3):39 FAX: 202-268-6981 kb)(6) ; (b)(3):39 www.usps.com ! -2- • Mailing completed ballots to election officials: To allow enough time for ballots to be returned to election officials, domestic voters should generally mail their completed ballots at least one week before the state's due date. In states that allow mail-in ballots to be counted if they are both postmarked by Election Day and received by election officials by a specific date that is less than a week after Election Day, voters should mail their ballots at least one week before they must be received by election officials. So, for example, if state law requires a mail-in ballot to be postmarked by Tuesday, November 3, and received by Friday, November 6, voters should mail their ballot by Friday, October 30, to allow enough time for the ballots to be delivered by November 6. Voters must also be aware of the posted collection times on collection boxes and at the Postal Service's retail facilities and that ballots entered after the last posted collection time on a given day will not be postmarked until the following business day. Under our reading of your state's election laws, as in effect on July 27, 2020, certain state-law requirements and deadlines appear to be incompatible with the Postal Service's delivery standards and the recommended timeframe noted above. As a result, to the extent that the mail is used to transmit ballots to and from voters, there is a significant risk that, at least in certain circumstances, ballots may be requested in a manner that is consistent with your election rules and returned promptly, and yet not be returned in time to be counted. Specifically, it appears that a voter may generally request a ballot as late as 7 days before the November general election, and that a completed ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and received by election officials within 3 days after the election. If a voter submits a request at or near the deadline, and the ballot is transmitted to the voter by mail, there is a significant risk that the voter will not have sufficient time to complete and mail the completed ballot back to election officials in time for it to arrive by the state's postmarking deadline. That risk is exacerbated by the fact that the law does not appear to require election officials to transmit a ballot until 2 business days after receiving a ballot request. Also, given the delivery standards for First-Class Mail , there is a risk that completed ballots postmarked on Election Day itself will not be delivered in time to meet the state's receipt deadline. As noted above, voters who choose to mail their ballots should do so no later than Friday, October 30. To be clear, the Postal Service is not purporting to definitively interpret the requirements of your state's election laws, and also is not recommending that such laws be changed to accommodate the Postal Service's delivery standards. By the same token, however, the Postal Service cannot adjust its delivery standards to accommodate the requirements of state election law. For this reason, the Postal Service asks that election officials keep the Postal Service's delivery standards and recommendations in mind when making decisions as to the appropriate means used to send a piece of Election Mail to voters, and when informing voters how to successfully participate in an election where they choose to use the mail. It is particularly important that voters be made aware of the transit times for mail (including mail-in ballots) so that they can make informed decisions about whether and when to (1) request a mail-in ballot, and (2) mail a completed ballot back to election officials. We remain committed to sustaining the mail as a secure, efficient, and effective means to allow citizens to participate in the electoral process when election officials determine to utilize the mail as a part of their election system. Ensuring that you have an understanding of our operational capabilities and recommended timelines, and can educate voters accordingly, is important to achieving a successful election season. Please reach out to your assigned election mail coordinator to discuss the logistics of your mailings and the services that are available as well as any questions you may have. A list of election mail coordinators may be found on our website at: https://about.usps.com/election-mail/politicalelection-mail-coordinators.pdf. -3We hope the information contained in this letter is helpful, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Sincerely, (b)(6); (b)(3):39 USC 410 (c)(2) THOMAS J. MARSHALL GEI-EIW. C'ECUTIIIE Viet: f>RESIOENT ~ U{'JIT.fD~Trrr5 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ IIJ!:ill POST/IL Sl"'PVICE July 31 , 2020 Honorable Kim Wyman Washington Secretary of State Legislative Building 2nd Floor P.O. Box 40220 Olympia, WA 98504-0220 Dear Secretary Wyman: Re: Deadlines for Malling Ballots With the 2020 General Election rapidly approaching, this letter follows up on my letter dated May 29, 2020, which I sent to election officials throughout the country. That letter highlighted some key aspects of the Postal Service's delivery processes. The purpose of this letter is to focus specifically on the deadlines for transmitting and casting ballots by mail. Under our reading of Washington's election laws, the vast majority of your voters should have sufficient time to receive, complete, and return their ballots by the state's deadlines. However, certain deadlines concerning mail-in ballots, particularly with respect to voters who register to vote or update their registration information shortly before Election Day, may be incongruous with the Postal Service's delivery standards. This mismatch creates a risk that some ballots will not be returned by mail in time to be counted under your laws as we understand them. As I stated in my May 29 letter, the two main classes of mail that are used for ballots are First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail, the latter of which includes the Nonprofit postage rate. Voters must use First-Class Mail (or an expedited level of service) to mail their ballots and ballot requests, while state or local election officials may generally use either First-Class Mail or Marketing Mail to mail blank ballots to voters. While the specific transit times for either class of mail cannot be guaranteed, and depend on factors such as a given mailpiece's place of origin and destination, most domestic First-Class Mail is delivered 2-5 days after it is received by the Postal Service, and most domestic Marketing Mail is delivered 3-10 days after it is received. For states that intend to automatically send blank mail-in ballots to eligible voters, the Postal Service strongly recommends adhering to the following timeline for domestic voters to account for the above delivery standards and to allow for contingencies (e.g., weather issues or unforeseen events): • Voter registration: Whenever possible, voters who intend to cast a ballot using the mail should ensure that their registration information is up-to-date in time to have a blank ballot sent to them in the state's Initial scheduled mailing. • Mailing blank ballots to voters: Election officials should consider that the ballot needs to be in the hands of the voter so that he or she has adequate time to complete it and put it back in the mail stream so that it can be processed and delivered by the applicable deadline. Accordingly, the Postal Service recommends that election officials use First-Class Mail to transmit blank ballots and allow 1 week for delivery to voters. Using Marketing Mail will result in slower delivery times and will increase the risk that voters will not receive their ballots in time to return them by mail. 4/~ L'l:NIANI PWA SW W/1$1-ilNG IOl'f 0C 20260-1100 !.COtll -2- • Mailing completed ballots to election officials: To allow enough time for ballots to be returned to election officials, domestic voters should generally mail their completed ballots at least one week before the state's due date. In states that require mail-in ballots to be both postmarked by Election Day and received by election officials by a specific date that is one week or more after Election Day, voters may generally mail their ballot on or before Election Day. However, voters who mail in their ballots on Election Day must be aware of the posted collection times on collection boxes and at the Postal Service's retail facilities, and that ballots entered after the last posted collection time on a given day will not be postmarked until the following business day. Under our reading of your state's election laws, as in effect on July 27, 2020, ballots are generally mailed to eligible voters no later than 18 days before Election Day, which should allow sufficient time for voters to receive, complete, and return such ballots by the state's deadline. However, certain state-law requirements and deadlines concerning voters who become eligible or who update their registration information after that initial mailing date may be incompatible with the Postal Service's delivery standards and the recommended timeframe noted above. As a result, to the extent that the mail is used to transmit ballots to and from these voters, there is a risk that, at least in certain circumstances, ballots may be sent to voters in a manner that is consistent with your election rules and returned promptly, and yet not be returned in time to be counted. Specifically, it appears that a completed ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and received 21 days after the November general election. If that understanding is correct, voters who choose to mail their ballots may do so on or before Tuesday, November 3. However, it further appears that state law generally permits voters to register or change their registration information as late as 8 days before the election, and that there is not a specific time period by which election officials must thereafter transmit a ballot to the voter. If a voter registers or changes his or her registration information at or near that deadline, and if the election official transmits the ballot to the voter by mail too late after the request, there is a risk that the voter will not receive the ballot before Election Day or have sufficient time to complete and mail the completed ballot back to election officials in time to satisfy the state's postmarking deadline. To be clear, the Postal Service is not purporting to definitively interpret the requirements of your state's election laws, and also is not recommending that such laws be changed to accommodate the Postal Service's delivery standards. By the same token, however, the Postal Service cannot adjust its delivery standards to accommodate the requirements of state election law. For this reason, the Postal Service asks that election officials keep the Postal Service's delivery standards and recommendations in mind when making decisions as to the appropriate means used to send a piece of Election Mail to voters, and when informing voters how to successfully participate in an election where they choose to use the mail. It is particularly important that voters be made aware of the transit times for mail (including mail-in ballots) so that they can make informed decisions about when to update their registration information and whether and when to mail a completed ballot back to election officials. We remain committed to sustaining the mail as a secure, efficient, and effective means to allow citizens to participate in the electoral process when election officials determine to utilize the mail as a part of their election system. Ensuring that you have an understanding of our operational capabilities and recommended timelines, and can educate voters accordingly, Is important to achieving a successful election season. Please reach out to your assigned election mail coordinator to discuss the logistics of your mailings and the services that are available as well as any questions you may have. A list of election mail coordinators may be found on our website at: https://about. usps.com/election-mail/politicalelection-mail-coordinators.pdf. -3- We hope the information contained in this letter is helpful, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Sincerely, b)(6); (b)(3):39 USC 410 (c)(2) Thom THOMAS J. MARSHALL GmrP,'11. COUNSEL AND USt IING!ON oc 20260 1100 !fh\fh\· f h \f~\-~Q k h\fh\ · (h\f~\-~Q I www usps corn ,~r. I • Mailing completed ballots to election officials: To allow enough time for ballots to be returned to election officials, domestic voters should generally mail their completed ballots at feast one week before the state's due date. So, if state law requires ballots to be returned by Election Day, voters should mail their ballots no later than Tuesday, October 27. Under our reading of your state's election laws, as in effect on July 27, 2020, ballots will generally be mailed to eligible registered voters beginning September 18. If ballots are mailed to voters near that date voters would have sufficient time to receive, complete, and return such ballots by the state's deadline. However, we were unable to find additional details about the timing for subsequent ballot mailings. We were also unable to determine whether the fast day for voters to register and still receive a ballot by mail would be set using new or existing registration deadlines. Without that additional information, we are unable to assess the potential risks with respect to the Postal Service's delivery standards at this time. If you choose to transmit blank ballots to voters by mail, please consider the recommended timeframes above as you continue to plan for the November general election. Adhering to those timeframes will help ensure voters will have sufficient time to complete and mail the completed ballot back to election officials in time for it to arrive by the state's return deadline. To be clear, the Postal Service is not purporting to definitively interpret the requirements of your state's election laws, and also is not recommending that such laws be changed to accommodate the Postal Service's delivery standards. By the same token, however, the Postal Service cannot adjust its delivery standards to accommodate the requirements of state election law. For this reason, the Postal Service asks that election officials keep the Postal Service's delivery standards and recommendations in mind when making decisions as to the appropriate means used to send a piece of Election Mail to voters, and when informing voters how to successfully participate in an election where they choose to use the mail. It Is particularly important that voters be made aware of the transit times for mail (including mail-in ballots) so that they can make informed decisions about when to update their registration information and whether and when to mail a completed ballot back to election officials. We remain committed to sustaining the mail as a secure, efficient, and effective means to allow citizens to participate in the electoral process when election officials determine to utilize the mail as a part of their election system. Ensuring that you have an understanding of our operational capabilities and recommended timelines, and can educate voters accordingly, is important to achieving a successful election season. Please reach out to your assigned election mail coordinator to discuss the logistics of your mailings and the services that are available as well as any questions you may have. A list of election mail coordinators may be found on our website at: https://about.usps.com/election-mall/politicalelection-mail-coordinators.pdf. We hope the information contained in this letter is helpful, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Sincere! , b)(6); (b)(3):39 USC 410 (c)(2) Thom s . Marshall THOMAS ,J. MARSHALL GENERAL COUNS[l ANO E>6U 6981 kb)(6): (b)(3): 39 USC www.usps.com -2- transmit blank ballots and allow 1 week for delivery to voters. Using Marketing Mail will result in slower delivery times and will increase the risk that voters will not receive their ballots in time to return them by mail. • Malling completed ballots to election officials: To allow enough time for ballots to be returned to election officials, domestic voters should generally mail their completed ballots at least one week before the jurisdiction's due date. In locations that require mail-in ballots to be both postmarked by Election Day and received by election officials by a specific date that is one week or more after Election Day, voters may generally mail their ballot on or before Election Day. However, voters who mail in their ballots on Election Day must be aware of the posted collection times on collection boxes and at the Postal Service's retail facilities, and that ballots entered after the last posted collection time on a given day will not be postmarked until the following business day. Under our reading of the D.C.'s election laws, as in effect on July 27, 2020, it appears that ballots will generally be mailed to eligible voters and that a completed ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and received 7 days after the election. However, we were unable to find additional details about the scheduled mailing times for election officials to send voters a blank ballot. We were also unable to determine whether the last day for voters to register and still receive a ballot by mail would be set using new or existing registration deadlines, or whether another type of request process would be put into place. Without this additional information, we are unable to assess the potential risks with respect to the Postal Service's delivery standards at this time. If you c hoose to transmit blank ballots to voters by mail, please consider the recommended timeframes above as you continue to plan for the November general election. Adhering to those timeframes will help ensure voters will have sufficient time to complete and mail the completed ballot back to election officials in time for it to arrive by the jurisdiction's return deadline. To be clear, the Postal Service is not purporting to definitively interpret the requirements of your jurisdiction's election laws, and also is not recommending that such laws be changed to accommodate the Postal Service's delivery standards. By the same token, however, the Postal Service cannot adjust its delivery standards to accommodate the requirements of state election law. For this reason, the Postal Service asks that election officials keep the Postal Service's delivery standards and recommendations in mind when making decisions as to the appropriate means used to send a piece of Election Mail to voters, and when informing voters how to successfully participate in an election where they choose to use the mail. It is particularly important that voters be made aware of the transit times for mail (including mail-in ballots) so that they can make informed decisions about when to register and whether and when to mail a completed ballot back to election officials. We remain committed to sustaining the mail as a secure, efficient, and effective means to allow citizens to participate in the electoral process when election officials determine to utilize the mail as a part of their election system. Ensuring that you have an understanding of our operational capabilities and recommended timelines, and can educate voters accordingly, is important to achieving a successful election season. Please reach out to your assigned election mail coordinator to discuss the logistics of your mailings and the services that are available as well as any questions you may have. A list of election mail coordinators may be found on our website at: https://about. usps.com/election-mail/politicalelection-mail-coordinators. pdf. We hope the information contained in this letter is helpful, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Sincere! (b)(6); (b)(3):39 USC 410 (c)(2) I HOMI\S J, MARSHALL GENtfW.. CoUNSlL AND 8.u~ps.cor11 -2- • Mailing completed ballots to election officials: To allow enough time for ballots to be returned to election officials, domestic voters should generally mail their completed ballots at least one week before the state's due date. So, if state law requires ballots to be returned by Election Day, voters should mail their ballots no later than Tuesday, October 27. Under our reading of your state's election laws, as in effect on July 27, 2020, certain state-law requirements and deadlines appear to be incompatible with the Postal Service's delivery standards and the recommended timeframe noted above. As a result, to the extent that the mail is used to transmit ballots to and from voters, there is a risk that, at least in certain circumstances, ballots may be requested in a manner that is consistent with your election rules and returned promptly, and yet not be returned in time to be counted. Specifically, it appears that a completed ballot must be received by Election Day. If that understanding is correct, we recommend that voters who choose to mail their ballots do so no later than Tuesday, October 27. However, it further appears that state law generally permits voters to request a ballot as late as Wednesday, October 21 , and that election officials thereafter have 3 business days to transmit a ballot to the voter. If a voter submits a request at or near that ballotrequest deadline, and the ballot is transmitted to the voter by mail 3 business days later, there is a significant risk that the voter will not have sufficient time to complete and mail the completed ballot back to the election official in time for it to arrive by the state's return deadline. To be clear, the Postal Service is not purporting to definitively interpret the requirements of your state's election laws, and also is not recommending that such laws be changed to accommodate the Postal Service's delivery standards. By the same token, however, the Postal Service cannot adjust its delivery standards to accommodate the requirements of state election law. For this reason, the Postal Service asks that election officials keep the Postal Service's delivery standards and recommendations in mind when making decisions as to the appropriate means used to send a piece of Election Mail to voters, and when informing voters how to successfully participate in an election where they choose to use the mail. It is particularly important that voters be made aware of the transit times for mail (including mall-in ballots) so that they can make informed decisions about whether and when to (1) request a mail-in ballot, and (2) mail a completed ballot back to election officials. We remain committed to sustaining the mail as a secure, efficient, and effective means to allow citizens to participate in the electoral process when election officials determine to utilize the mail as a part of their election system. Ensuring that you have an understanding of our operational capabilities and recommended tlmelines, and can educate voters accordingly, is important to achieving a successful election season. Please reach out to your assigned election mail coordinator to discuss the logistics of your mailings and the services that are available as well as any questions you may have. A list of election mail coordinators may be found on our website at: https://about.usps.com/election-mail/politicalelection-mail-coordinators.pdf. We hope the information contained in this letter is helpful, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. b)(6); (b)(3):39 USC 410 (c)(2) Tho as J. Marshall THOMAS J. MARSIIALL GENEAAL C OUNSEL AND ExEGUl l\lE VIOie PRES/000 iiirf!!!'!I UNJrrv ST1"TS" ~ P05"7'il. Sf"f?VICE July 31, 2020 Honorable Barbara Cegavske Nevada Secretary of State 101 North Carson Street, Suite 3 Carson City, NV 89710-3714 Dear Secretary Cegavske: Re: Deadlines for Mailing Ballots With the 2020 General Election rapidly approaching, this letter follows up on my letter dated May 29, 2020, which I sent to election officials throughout the country. That letter highlighted some key aspects of the Postal Service's delivery processes. The purpose of this letter is to focus specifically on the deadlines for transmitting and casting ballots by mail. Under our reading of Nevada's election laws, it appears that your voters should have sufficient time to receive, complete, and return their ballots by the state's deadlines. This will of course depend on election officials and voters using the mail in a manner consistent with the Postal Service's delivery standards, when the mail is utilized. Below are the Postal Service's recommendations regarding mailing timelines to help you continue to minimize the risk that some ballots will not be returned by mail in time to be counted. As I stated in my May 29 letter, the two main classes of mail that are used for ballots are First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail, the latter of which includes the Nonprofit postage rate. Voters must use First-Class Mail (or an expedited level of service) to mail their ballots and ballot requests, while state or local election officials may generally use either First-Class Mail or Marketing Mail to mail blank ballots to voters. While the specific transit times for either class of mail cannot be guaranteed , and depend on factors such as a given mailpiece's place of origin and destination, most domestic First-Class Mail is delivered 2-5 days after it is received by the Postal Service, and most domestic Marketing Mail is delivered 3-10 days after it is received. To account for these delivery standards and to allow for contingencies (e.g., weather issues or unforeseen events), the Postal Service strongly recommends adhering to the following timeframe when using the mail to transmit ballots to domestic voters: • Ballot requests: Where voters will both receive and send a ballot by mail, voters should submit their ballot request early enough so that it is received by their election officials at least 15 days before Election Day at a minimum, and preferably long before that time. • Mailing blank ballots to voters: In responding to a ballot request, election officials should consider that the ballot needs to be In the hands of the voter so that he or she has adequate time to complete it and put it back in the mail stream so that it can be processed and delivered by the applicable deadline. Accordingly, the Postal Service recommends that election officials use First-Class Mail to transmit blank ballots and allow 1 week for delivery to voters. Using Marketing Mail will result in slower delivery times and will increase the risk that voters will not receive their ballots in time to return them by mail. 4 lb L'LNI AN'/' PLAZA SW WASHMG I ON l)C 20260-1100 !fh\fn\· fh\f~\ -~q f AA. :?02-268 (3981 kb)(6): (b)(3):39 USC wvvw u.sps,r.,;<;n 1 -2- • Mailing completed ballots to election officials: To allow enough time for ballots to be returned to election officials, domestic voters should generally mail their completed ballots at least one week before the state's due date. In states that require mail-in ballots to be both postmarked by Election Day and received by election officials by a specific date that one week or more after Election Day, voters may generally mail their ballot on or before Election Day. However, voters who mail in their ballots on Election Day must be aware of the posted collection times on collection boxes and at the Postal Service's retail facilities, and that ballots entered after the last posted collection time on a given day will not be postmarked until the following business day. Under our reading of your state's election laws, as in effect on July 27, 2020, it appears that voters must generally request an absentee ballot no later than 14 days before Election Day, and that completed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received no later than 7 days after the election. The state's ballot-request deadline should allow sufficient time for voters to receive, complete, and return such ballots by the state's Election Day postmarking deadline. Please keep in mind that your state's deadline appears to be compatible with the Postal Service's delivery standards only if election officials transmit blank ballots to voters in a timely manner and if voters who choose to mail their ballots do so in time to receive a postmark on November 3. To the extent that there are exceptions to your general timelines that allow voters to request a ballot after the ballot-request deadline, there may be a risk that the voter will not receive a ballot before Election Day or that they will not have sufficient time to complete and mail the completed ballot back to election officials in time for it to be counted. To be clear, the Postal Service is not purporting to definitively interpret the requirements of your state's election laws, and also is not recommending that such laws be changed to accommodate the Postal Service's delivery standards. By the same token, however, the Postal Service cannot adjust its delivery standards to accommodate the requirements of state election law. For this reason, the Postal Service asks that election officials keep the Po~tal Service's delivery standards and recommendations in mind when making decisions as to the appropriate means used to send a piece of Election Mail to voters, and when informing voters how to successfully participate in an election where they choose to use the mail. It is particularly important that voters be made aware of the transit times for mail (including mail-in ballots) so that they can make informed decisions about whether and when to (1) request a mail-in ballot, and (2) mail a completed ballot back to election officials. We remain committed to sustaining the mail as a secure, efficient, and effective means to allow citizens to participate in the electoral process when election officials determine to utilize the mail as a part of their election system. Ensuring that you have an understanding of our operational capabilities and recommended timelines, and can educate voters accordingly, is important to achieving a successful election season. Please reach out to your assigned.election mail coordinator to discuss the logistics of your mailings and the services that are available as well as any questions you may have. A list of election mail coordinators may be found on our website at: https://about. usps. com/election-mail/politicalelection-mail-coordinators. pdf. We hope the information contained in this letter is helpful, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Sincerely, (b)(6); (b)(3):39 USC 410 (c)(2) Tho as J. Marshall THOMA$ J. MARSHALL GENERAL COUNSEL ANO E.xECVTTVi: V1CE PAESIDEN I iiir!f UNITf:D S1ll1"C:S ~ pt"JrTALSEl?V/C~E- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - July 31, 2020 Honorable Bev Clarno Oregon Secretary of State 136 State Capitol Salem, OR 97310-0001 Dear Secretary Clarno: Re: Deadlines for Mailing Ballots With the 2020 General Election rapidly approaching, this letter follows up on my letter dated May 29, 2020, which I sent to election officials throughout the country. That letter highlighted some key aspects of the Postal Service's delivery processes. The purpose of this letter is to focus specifically on the deadlines for transmitting and casting ballots by mail. Under our reading of Oregon's election laws, it appears that your voters should have sufficient time to receive, complete, and return their ballots by the state's deadlines. This will of course depend on election officials and voters using the mail in a manner consistent with the Postal Service's delivery standards, when the mail is utilized. Below are the Postal Service's recommendations regarding mailing timelines to help you continue to minimize the risk that some ballots will not be returned by mail in time to be counted. As I stated in my May 29 letter, the two main classes of mail that are used for ballots are First-Class Mall and USPS Marketing Mail, the latter of which includes the Nonprofit postage rate. Voters must use First-Class Mail (or an expedited level of service) to mail their ballots and ballot requests, while state or local election officials may generally use either First-Class Mail or Marketing Mail to mail blank ballots to voters. While the specific transit times for either class of mail cannot be guaranteed, and depend on factors such as a given mailpiece's place of origin and destination, most domestic First-Class Mail Is delivered 2-5 days after it is received by the Postal Service, and most domestic Marketing Mai I is delivered 3-10 days after it is received. For states that automatically send blank mail-in ballots to eligible voters, the Postal Service strongly recommends adhering to the following timeline for domestic voters to account for the above delivery standards and to allow for contingencies (e.g., weather issues or unforeseen events): • Voter registration: Whenever possible, voters who intend to cast a ballot using the mail should ensure that their registration information is up-to-date in time to have a blank ballot sent to them in the state's initial scheduled mailing. • Mailing blank ballots to voters: Election officials should consider that the ballot needs to be in the hands of the voter so that he or she has adequate time to complete it and put it back in the mail stream so that it can be processed and delivered by the applicable deadline. Accordingly, the Postal Service recommends that election officials use First-Class Mail to transmit blank ballots and allow 1 week for delivery to voters. Using Marketing Mail will result in slower delivery times and will increase the risk that voters will not receive their ballots in time to return them by mail. 475 L' t:NI/INl PLAZA SW WASI ING10N OC 20260 1100 !(b)(6): (b)(3):39 ! I AJ<' 202 261:l 691!1 !IT Pu.l.A SW WASh•'lOION UC 20260 1100 !rh \ff;\· fh \f~ \- ~Q h1;c 2()2 26ll 6981 kb)(6); (b)(3):39 USC WWW USl)S,COHI -2- • Mailing completed ballots to election officials: To allow enough time for ballots to be returned to election officials, domestic voters should generally mail their completed ballots at least one week before the state's due date. In states that allow mail-in ballots to be counted if they are both postmarked before Election Day and received by election officials by a specific date that is less than a week after Election Day, voters should mail their ballots at least one week before they must be received by election officials. So, for example, if state law requires a mail-in ballot to be postmarked by Monday, November 2, and received by Monday, November 9, voters should mail their ballot by Monday, November 2, to allow enough time for the ballots to be delivered by November 9. Voters must also be aware of the posted collection times on collection boxes and at the Postal Service's retail facilities and that ballots entered after the last posted collection time on a given day will not be postmarked until the following business day. Under our reading of your state's election laws, as in effect on July 27, 2020, certain state-law requirements and deadlines appear to be incompatible with the Postal Service's delivery standards and the recommended timeframe noted above. As a result, to the extent that the mail is used to transmit ballots to and from voters, there is a significant risk that, at least in certain circumstances, ballots may be requested in a manner that is consistent with your election rules and returned promptly, and yet not be returned in time to be counted. Specifically, it appears that a completed ballot must be postmarked by November 2 and received by November 9. If that understanding is correct, voters who choose to mail their ballots may do so no later than Monday, November 2. However, your state's statute does not appear to establish a specific ballot-request deadline, and our understanding is that your office advises voters that they may submit an application for a mail-in ballot at any time. Assuming that understanding is correct, if a voter requests a ballot close to Election Day and the ballot is transmitted to the voter by mail, there is a significant risk that the ballot will not reach the voter before the November 2 postmarking deadline, and accordingly that the voter will not be able to use the requested ballot to cast his or her vote. That risk is exacerbated by the fact that the law does not appear to impose a time period by which election officials must transmit a ballot to the voter in response to a request. To be clear, the Postal Service is not purporting to definitively interpret the requirements of your state's election laws, and also is not recommending that such laws be changed to accommodate the Postal Service's delivery standards. By the same token, however, the Postal Service cannot adjust its delivery standards to accommodate the requirements of state election law. For this reason, the Postal Service asks that election officials keep the Postal Service's delivery standards and recommendations in mind when making decisions as to the appropriate means used to send a piece of Election Mail to voters, and when informing voters how to successfully participate In an election where they choose to use the mail. It is particularly important that voters be made aware of the transit times for mail (including mail-in ballots) so that they can make informed decisions about whether and when to (1) request a mail-in ballot, and (2) mail a completed ballot back to election officials. We remain committed to sustaining the mail as a secure, efficient, and effective means to allow citizens to participate in the electoral process when election officials determine to utilize the mail as a part of their election system. Ensuring that you have an understanding of our operational capabilities and recommended timelines, and can educate voters accordingly, is important to achieving a successful election season. Please reach out to your assigned election mail coordinator to discuss the logistics of your mailings and the services that are available as well as any questions you may have. A list of election mail coordinators may be found on our website at: https://about.usps.com/election-mail/politicalelection-mail-coordinators.pdf. - 3- We hope the information contained in this letter is helpful, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Sincerely, (b)(6); (b)(3):39 USC 410 (c)(2) T HOMAS J. MARSHALL GENHsAL CoUNS[ L AND ExtCLf11\11c VrcE PRESIDENT iiirf!!!!I UNITE ;-;.,D ;.....:c.. ST. ~Zl=Ti.;ES ;::;;;:;.__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ P1iitlfl iLSERVICE July 31, 2020 Honorable Kevin Meyer Lieutenant Governor of Alaska P.O. Box 110015 Juneau, AK 99811-0015 Dear Lieutenant Governor Meyer: Re: Deadlines for Mailing Ballots With the 2020 General Election rapidly approaching, this letter follows up on my letter dated May 29, 2020, which I sent to election officials throughout the country. That letter highlighted some key aspects of the Postal Service's delivery processes. The purpose of this letter is to focus specifically on the deadlines for transmitting and casting ballots by mail. In particular, we wanted to note that, under our reading of Alaska's election laws, certain deadlines for requesting and casting mail-in ballots may be incongruous with the Postal Service's delivery standards. This mismatch creates a risk that some ballots requested near the deadline under state law will not be returned by mail in time to be counted under your laws as we understand them. As I stated in my May 29 letter, the two main classes of mail that are used for ballots are First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail, the latter of which includes the Nonprofit postage rate. Voters must use First-Class Mail (or an expedited level of service) to mail their ballots and ballot requests, while state or local election officials may generally use either First-Class Mail or Marketing Mail to mail blank ballots to voters. While the specific transit times for either class of mail cannot be guaranteed, and depend on factors such as a given mailpiece's place of origin and destination, most domestic First-Class Mail ls delivered 2-5 days after it is received by the Postal Service, and most domestic Marketing Mail is delivered 3-10 days after it is received. To account for these delivery standards and to allow for contingencies (e.g. , weather issues or unforeseen events), the Postal Service strongly recommends adhering to the following timeframe when using the mail to transmit ballots to domestic voters: • Ballot requests: Where voters will both receive and send a ballot by mail, voters should submit their ballot request early enough so that it is received by their election officials at least 15 days before Election Day at a minimum, and preferably long before that time. • Mailing blank ballots to voters: In responding to a ballot request, election officials should consider that the ballot needs to be in the hands of the voter so that he or she has adequate time to complete it and put it back in the mail stream so that it can be processed and delivered by the applicable deadline. Accordingly, the Postal Service recommends that election officials use First-Class Mail to transmit blank ballots and allow 1 week for delivery to voters. Using Marketing Mail will result in slower delivery times and will increase the risk that voters will not receive their ballots in time to return them by mail. 4 / 6 L'fcNI ANl Pl.AZ/\ S W WASr 1:NGlON 0C 20260 1100 !fh\{i:-\· {h\{~\ -~Q I FAA: :?02 268 69(\1 lfh)(n)· fh)(1\·1Q I ISf: www.usps.corn -2- • Mailing completed ballots to election officials: To allow enough time for ballots to be returned to election officials, domestic voters should generally mail their completed ballots at least one week before the state's due date. In states that require mail-in ballots to be both postmarked by Election Day and received by election officials by a specific date that is one week or more after Election Day, voters may generally mail their ballot up until Election Day. However, voters who mail In their ballots on November 3 must be aware of the posted collection times on collection boxes and at the Postal Service's retail facilities, and that ballots entered after the last posted collection time on a given day will not be postmarked until the following business day. Under our reading of your state's election laws, as in effect on July 27, 2020, certain state-law requirements and deadlines appear to be incompatible with the Postal Service's delivery standards and the recommended timeframe noted above. As a result, to the extent that the mail is used to transmit ballots to and from voters, there is a risk that, at least in certain circumstances, ballots may be requested in a manner that is consistent with your election rules and returned promptly, and yet not be returned in time to be counted. Specifically, it appears that a completed ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 10 days after the election to be counted. If that understanding is correct, voters who choose to mail their ballots may do so on or before Tuesday, November 3. However, it further appears that state law generally permits voters to request a ballot as late as 10 days before the election, and does not establish a specific time period by which election officials must transmit a ballot to the voter in response to a request. If a voter submits a request at or near the ballot-request deadline, and there is a delay before the ballot is transmitted to the voter by mail, there is a risk that the voter will not have sufficient time to complete and mail the completed ballot back to election officials in time for it to satisfy the state's postmarking deadline. It is also our understanding that each Division of Elections Director may decide to hold the November general election under your state's procedures for voting by mall, under Alaska Statute§ 15.20.800. For those Directors who choose to use the voting by mail processes, It appears that ballots are generally mailed to eligible voters no later than 22 days before Election Day, which should allow sufficient time for voters to receive, complete, and return such ballots by the state's Election Day postmarking deadline. Please keep in mind that this deadline appears to be compatible with the Postal Service's delivery standards only if election officials adhere to the statutory ballot-mailing timeline and voters who choose to mail their completed ballots do so no later than November 3. To the extent that these timelines or recommendations are not followed, or that state law allows ballots to be mailed to voters later than the general mailing date above, there may be a risk that the ballot will not reach the voter before the state's postmark deadline of November 3. To be clear, the Postal Service is not purporting to definitively interpret the requirements of your state's election laws, and also is not recommending that such laws be changed to accommodate the Postal Service's delivery standards. By the same token, however, the Postal Service cannot adjust its delivery standards to accommodate the requirements of state election law. For this reason, the Postal Service asks that election officials keep the Postal Service's delivery standards and recommendations in mind when making decisions as to the appropriate means used to send a piece of Election Mail to voters, and when informing voters how to successfully participate in an election where they choose to use the mail. It Is particularly important that voters be made aware of the transit times for mail (including mail-in ballots) so that they can make informed decisions about whether and when to (1) request a mail-in ballot, and (2) mail a completed ballot back to election officials. We remain committed to sustaining the mail as a secure, efficient, and effective means to allow citizens to participate in the electoral process when election officials determine to utilize the mail as a part of their election system. Ensuring that you have an understanding of our operational capabilities and recommended timelines, and can educate voters accordingly, is important to achieving a successful election season. Please reach out to your assigned election mail coordinator to discuss -3- the logistics of your mailings and the services that are available as well as any questions you may have. A list of election mail coordinators may be found on our website at https://about.usps.com/election-mail/politicalelection-mail-coordinators.pdf. We hope the information contained in this letter is helpful, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Sincerely, b)(6); (b)(3):39 USC 410 (c)(2) T HOMAS J, MARSHALL GENER/I!. CoUNSEL ANO ExECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT iir!!!!J U/1_!_,TT]_D S-::..1::i':l:.:T,.:E::S:.-_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ ~ POSTAL5C:RVICE July 31, 2020 Honorable Scott Nago Chief Election Officer Office of Elections 802 Lehua Avenue Pearl City, HI 96782 -3321 Dear Mr. Nago: Re: Deadlines for Mailing Ballots With the 2020 General Election rapidly approaching, this letter follows up on my letter dated May 29, 2020, which I sent to election officials throughout the country. That letter highlighted some key aspects of the Postal Service's delivery processes. The purpose of this letter is to focus specifically on the deadlines for transmitting and casting ballots by mail. Under our reading of Hawaii's election laws, the vast majority of your voters should have sufficient time to receive, complete, and return their ballots by the state's dead lines. However, certain deadlines concerning absentee ballots appear to be incongruous with the Postal Service's delivery standards. This mismatch creates a risk that some ballots will not be returned by mail in time to be counted under your laws as we understand them. As I stated in my May 29 letter, the two main classes of mail that are used for ballots are First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail, the latter of which includes the Nonprofit postage rate. Voters must use First-Class Mail (or an expedited level of service) to mail their ballots and ballot requests, while state or local election officials may generally use either First-Class Mail or Marketing Mail to mail blank ballots to voters. While the specific transit times for either class of mail cannot be guaranteed, and depend on factors such as a given mailpiece's place of origin and destination, most domestic First-Class Mail is delivered 2-5 days after it is received by the Postal Service, and most domestic Marketing Mail is delivered 3-1 O days after it is received. For states that automatically send blank mail-in ballots to eligible voters, the Postal Service strongly recommends adhering to the following timeline for domestic voters to account for the above delivery standards and to allow for contingencies (e.g., weather issues or unforeseen events): • Voter registration: Whenever possible, voters who intend to cast a ballot using the mail should ensure that their registration information is up-to-date in time to have a blank ballot sent to them in the state's initial scheduled mailing. • Mailing blank ballots to voters: Election officials should consider that the ballot needs to be in the hands of the voter so that he or she has adequate time to complete it and put it back in the mail stream so that it can be processed and delivered by the applicable deadline. Accordingly, the Postal Service recommends that election officials use First-Class Mail to transmit blank ballots and allow 1 week for delivery to voters. Using Marketing Mail will result in slower delivery times and will increase the risk that voters will not receive their ballots in time to return them by mail. 4i5 L'l:NrAl'(l PLAZA SW WASll•NG.ION OC 20260 1100 !