When Pennsylvania voter Mindy Bence opened her mail-in ballot packet, there was a problem: Her return envelopes had arrived already sealed shut.
She worried. If she tried to use them, would her vote count? (THREAD)
She worried. If she tried to use them, would her vote count? (THREAD)
2/ “I don't really know what I'm going to do,” Mindy told ProPublica.
After an hour on hold Monday, the board of elections told her to open the sealed envelopes, put her ballot inside and tape them shut.
When she asked a question, they hung up, she said.
After an hour on hold Monday, the board of elections told her to open the sealed envelopes, put her ballot inside and tape them shut.
When she asked a question, they hung up, she said.
3/ Mindy was concerned that if she follows the county’s advice, her ballot will look like it's been tampered with and could be rejected.
She was reluctant to request a new ballot in person.
“I'm disabled and immunocompromised. So that's what I wanted to avoid."
She was reluctant to request a new ballot in person.
“I'm disabled and immunocompromised. So that's what I wanted to avoid."
4/ Bucks County, PA, where Mindy lives, uses a call center to handle the flood of election-related questions.
“The problem is getting through to them, just getting someone’s attention, at this point," county spokesperson Larry King said.
“The problem is getting through to them, just getting someone’s attention, at this point," county spokesperson Larry King said.
5/ King confirmed that a few Bucks County voters have also found their return & secrecy envelopes sealed shut, probably due to humid weather.
It’s fine to open the envelopes then reseal them with tape, he said. They won’t be disqualified.
It’s fine to open the envelopes then reseal them with tape, he said. They won’t be disqualified.
6/ But this year, many voters like Mindy worry that even a small error could disqualify their votes.
"Hopefully we don't have a lawsuit over Scotch tape when this is all over," King joked.
"Hopefully we don't have a lawsuit over Scotch tape when this is all over," King joked.
7/ Pennsylvania isn’t the only state with envelope problems this election.
In New Jersey, at least one voter opened their ballot to find that the envelopes were already sealed, as our partner @njspotlight reported:
njspotlight.com/2020/10/nj-ele…
In New Jersey, at least one voter opened their ballot to find that the envelopes were already sealed, as our partner @njspotlight reported:
njspotlight.com/2020/10/nj-ele…
8/ There were similar problems in Leon County, Fla.
The county sent 80,000 absentee ballots and had "a few hundred phone calls” about sealed return envelopes, Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley told @WFSUNews.
Damp weather was the likely culprit.
news.wfsu.org/wfsu-local-new…
The county sent 80,000 absentee ballots and had "a few hundred phone calls” about sealed return envelopes, Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley told @WFSUNews.
Damp weather was the likely culprit.
news.wfsu.org/wfsu-local-new…
9/ Another voter, in Palm Beach County, Fla., opened their absentee ballot to find the envelopes inside sealed.
“It's not a problem, they can open it up, they can tape it back, the key is if they signed it,” election supervisor Wendy Sartory Link said.
wpbf.com/article/duplic…
“It's not a problem, they can open it up, they can tape it back, the key is if they signed it,” election supervisor Wendy Sartory Link said.
wpbf.com/article/duplic…
10/ Rosalie Majkowski and her son found their ballot envelopes partly sealed in New Hanover County, N.C., last month. It's been an issue in a handful of North Carolina counties.
"We went to open the envelopes and they wouldn’t open," she said.
wect.com/2020/09/16/ele…
"We went to open the envelopes and they wouldn’t open," she said.
wect.com/2020/09/16/ele…
11/ Back in Buck County, Pa., Mindy finally decided to go in person to pick up a new absentee ballot. After waiting in line for about three hours Tuesday, she got one.
This time, the envelopes were fine, she said.
This time, the envelopes were fine, she said.
12/ If you have problems with your vote-by-mail ballot, we’d like to hear about them. Here’s how to get in touch with our @Electionland team:
propublica.org/getinvolved/pl…
propublica.org/getinvolved/pl…
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