Absentee ballot postage confusing voters

Thousands of Ohio voters are voting by absentee ballot this year so they don't have to stand in line at the polls on Election Day. Ohio Boards of Elections expect at least 25 percent of all votes to come in this way.

But the U.S. Postal Service says many absentee voters are not putting enough postage on the envelope.

Requires More Postage This Year

Because of the size of the 2012 mailer,the Hamilton County Board of Elections in Ohio say you should put 65 cents worth of postage on most absentee ballots, about 20 cents more than the standard Forever Stamp.

Making it more confusing: each county has a different absentee ballot.  In a few counties, including Warren County, the required postage can be even higher.  In Clermont County, which has a thinner ballot, a single stamp may be fine.

The easiest thing is to simply put two Forever Stamps on it, just to protect yourself.

Many Voters Forgetting

The U.S. Postal Service reports that many voters are forgetting to put additional postage on their mailer.

It says it is still forwarding them to the local board of elections, as returning the envelope to the sender would take weeks.

However, there is a risk with placing just one Forever Stamp on the envelope.  Legally, the Postal Service does not have to accept it, and there is a slight chance it could end up in a bin with other letters that have insufficient postage.

So the easiest thing is to put 65 cents postage, or two stamps on it, just to be safe, and so you don't waste your money.

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