Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

BumRushDaShow

(143,384 posts)
Thu Oct 31, 2024, 06:01 AM Oct 31

1 county each in Oregon, Washington report issues with US Postal Service not delivering ballots

Source: AP

Updated 7:03 PM EDT, October 30, 2024


Voters in two counties in Washington state and Oregon have not received mail-in ballots with less than a week to go before the election, election officials said Wednesday. The news comes two days after incendiary devices were set off in ballot drop boxes in both those states.

The U.S. Postal Service failed to deliver an unknown number of ballots in Coos County, Oregon, and it didn’t deliver up to 300 ballots in Whitman County, Washington, elections officials told The Associated Press. Both states conduct elections by mail.

In Coos County, a rural, coastal area in Oregon’s southwest corner, the number of missing ballots wasn’t clear because officials only know of a missing ballot if the voter tells them, Laura Kerns, a spokesperson for the Oregon Secretary of State’s office, said in an email Wednesday. Coos County has about 50,000 active voters.

In Washington, up to 300 ballots have not been delivered in the community of Garfield, Whitman County Auditor Sandy Jamison said. The town about is about 55 miles (88 kilometers) southeast of Spokane, in the eastern part of the state. There have also been some reports of missing ballots outside the town, Jamison said.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/washington-oregon-ballots-not-delivered-e93f8b208aa0984222c1ea8368dd1898

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

MrWowWow

(431 posts)
1. Those Areas Have Active Militias
Thu Oct 31, 2024, 06:21 AM
Oct 31

Last edited Sun Nov 3, 2024, 05:19 PM - Edit history (1)

Am not surprised about the missing mail-in ballots for those two areas.
.
Here’s a list of known militias in Oregon along with their approximate locations:

1. Oregon III% United Patriots: Primarily based in central Oregon, particularly in Deschutes County.


2. Oath Keepers: Active statewide, with members often concentrated in urban areas like Portland and rural communities.


3. Proud Boys: While not a militia in the traditional sense, they have been active in Portland and other urban areas.


4. Pacific Patriots Network: Operates in various locations, including the Willamette Valley and eastern Oregon.


5. American Patriot 3%: Based in southern Oregon, particularly in Josephine and Jackson counties.


6. Militia of Montana: Although primarily associated with Montana, there are some members and supporters in eastern Oregon.


7. Three Percenters: Present statewide, particularly in areas with a significant rural and conservative population.



These groups can vary in activity levels and public visibility. Their exact locations may change due to various factors, including legal and social pressures.

KPN

(16,150 posts)
2. Coos County OR resident 36 years. Active militia? News to me,
Thu Oct 31, 2024, 06:31 AM
Oct 31

but would not be surprised. Do you have a source you can share?

bluestarone

(18,330 posts)
5. Asking you because you live in this area.
Thu Oct 31, 2024, 09:35 AM
Oct 31

Could this be a problem with the mail carrier? (dumping ballots, like others have done)

isitreal

(41 posts)
3. Colorado's system sends emails for ballot movement
Thu Oct 31, 2024, 08:09 AM
Oct 31

Colorado's voting system send you an email each time your ballot moves.
You receive an email when they mail you the ballot.
You receive an email when the receive at a drop box.
And finally you receive an email that tells you it has been counted.

The last one is especially reassuring in that in the event there was an issue with the vetting of the ballot you are made aware and you can go address the issue the counters had with your ballot.

I received my "ballot has been counted" Monday after I dropped it off late last week.

mitch96

(14,706 posts)
4. Same thing happened to me here in Florida. County board of elections website said my mail in ballot was sent
Thu Oct 31, 2024, 08:35 AM
Oct 31

I never received it. After two weeks I went down to the Sup of Ele and physically picked up a new ballot.
Took it home and took my time (one day) doing my research, filled it out, signed it and physically took it back down to the Sup of Ele. Got notifications it was received and counted.. Was it worth all the hassle?
Yes,
Job done..
m

LisaM

(28,685 posts)
6. Too busy delivering Amazon packages.
Thu Oct 31, 2024, 12:44 PM
Oct 31

My last ballot (luckily for a one issue election that finished in a landslide) didn't get postmarked in time even though I mailed it from an actual post office a day ahead of time (and before the pickup time for that day). I know for a fact that post office is slammed with Amazon packages and delivery and has trouble handling it.

This is election interference in its own way. In Washington and Oregon, we don't have a choice. It's all by mail.

FemDemERA

(412 posts)
8. Check with your local elections office. You should be able
Thu Oct 31, 2024, 06:36 PM
Oct 31

To go there, get a Replacement Ballot and submit it in person.

LisaM

(28,685 posts)
9. This was a postmark issue. I do have my ballot.
Thu Oct 31, 2024, 10:42 PM
Oct 31

My point is, the between doing LaJoie's (sp) bidding and drowning in Amazon packages, the Post Office is being asked to handle ever increasing amounts of mail in ballots when they are already overwhelmed. And that constitutes a form of voter suppression.

moniss

(6,018 posts)
7. Local postal personnel are not above shenanigans
Thu Oct 31, 2024, 01:47 PM
Oct 31

and these mailings aren't just brought to them piecemeal like one here and one there. Typically mailings like this will go out from the agency to the PO for delivery on a daily basis. So the agency might have 20 requests on a day all to either be picked up by the PO on it's regular route or by bringing them directly to the PO if they are going out under a bulk permit which is typical. So the personnel can take possession of the mailings and then they leave them sitting in the back of the PO undelivered.

Many years ago I was aware of a case where a contentious, and embarrassing for the local movers/shakers, environmental issue had sprung up and a small group of citizens in the smallish city had formed to fight for disclosure, their safety, their health and their rights. So they decided to hold a community meeting to get the word out. They developed a flyer to be mailed to every address to notify of the problem and the date of the meeting. They obtained a bulk mail permit and had the flyers printed. They picked up the flyers and took them to the post office and processed them with the PO personnel. Days and days later nobody had received a flyer in the mail and the date for the meeting was only a few days away. The main organizer went to the PO to find out what the problem was and was told the flyers hadn't gone out because of an "oversight". So the flyers delivered on the day of the meeting and many people were unaware since they had other things now planned but would have liked to attend. This was not some big town with tons of bulk mail etc. but rather a town with a secret about who did what, who knew about it and the efforts to keep it covered up.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»1 county each in Oregon, ...