Arizona Elections Officials Rush to Correct Voter Information in USPS Postcard

Mailer sent out to every household in U.S.

Photo by Alicia Barrón

By Alicia Barrón

September 16, 2020

“The information is not just confusing, it’s wrong.”

A mailer from the United States Postal Service with general information on how to participate in the Nov. 3 election contained a timeline for voters that does not align with voting deadlines in Arizona.

Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs sent out a series of tweets shortly after the mailer was delivered, clarifying what voters need to know so their vote will be counted upcoming election. Hobbs also urged to verify their voter registration.

Dear Postal Customer, if you got this mailer in Arizona you might have some questions. Here is what you need you know for our state. 1/ pic.twitter.com/0Wahc3S4VV
— Governor Katie Hobbs (@GovernorHobbs) September 15, 2020

In Arizona, the deadline to request a ballot to vote in the November election is October 23, not the 19th as indicated from the url on the postcard.

Also, Arizona voters are asked to mail in their ballots at least seven days (not 10) before Election Day.

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold shared a photo of the USPS postcard, saying she had just found out that those factually incorrect mailers had been mailed out to every household and P.O. Box in the country.

I just found out the @USPS is sending this postcard to every household and PO Box in the nation. For states like Colorado where we send ballots to all voters, the information is not just confusing, it’s WRONG. (Thread) pic.twitter.com/RoTTeJRJVl
— Jena Griswold (@JenaGriswold) September 12, 2020

What Griswold said concerned her the most was that in a number of states, including Colorado, voters don’t have to request ballots because every registered voter already receives one in the mail. Now the USPS mailer is confusing voters by asking them to request a ballot.

Also of concern, as brought up by a reporter with The Arizona Republic, is the fact that voters in Arizona do not have to add postage to their return envelopes when mailing ballots back.

#AZ voters do NOT need to add postage to the ballot return envelope. Counties prepay for postage & adding a stamp could potentially delay processing. No stamp necessary, sign the envelope, to return ballot either place in mail by 10/27 or drop off at any voting location in county
— AZ Clean Elections (@AZCCEC) September 14, 2020

Griswold went on to say in her Twitter thread that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy had refused to review a draft of the mailer containing important election information before it was sent out to and now voters across the country are receiving these mailers with misinformation.

Arizonans can register to vote here. Learn more about the upcoming election at The Copper Courier’s Guide to Voting in Arizona in 2020.

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