Postal plans could affect voting by mail

The U.S. Postal Service announced plans to go forward with a modified schedule for consolidating its network of 461 mail processing centers in phases.

If you plan to vote by mail in the Nov. 6 presidential election, this may impact the timeframe for the three-part mailing now required in Illinois.

Since July 2011, election officials are required to first receive a voter’s signed application for ballot before mailing the ballot. The voter must return the ballot by mail to the election official.

The new requirement doubles postage costs for local elections officials and extends the timeline when a voter can receive a ballot. The expanded number of mailings may result in a hardship for voters who are overseas.

The Postal Service’s first phase will include 140 facility consolidations and last through February 2013. This summer, there will be 48 locations consolidated, with most expected to occur in August.

It remains unclear how the consolidation might impact timing for delivery of mail in Lake County.

Seven processing sites are slated to close in Illinois.

Due to the volume of high-priority mail predicted for the election and holiday mailing seasons, no consolidating activities will be conducted between September and December.

In the second phase, an additional 889 consolidations will occur, starting in 2014.

Additional details are available at about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/our-future-network/welcome.htm.

Visit lakecountyclerk.info for more information about county clerk services and current election news.