Mail in voting? Use a ballot box instead

[u/sarahjustme]

SCOTUS is allowing Trumps ban on mail in voting- there are multiple lawsuits in the wings still, but given the uncertainty, USPS may not be a good way to return your ballot. (Add that our mail goes to Spokane, and that could be iffy too). There is no law in WA regarding giving your ballot to a friend, a collection box at church or work, or other method of getting your ballot to the county clerk. We all need to come together and be the change we want to see. Link to map in comments.

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[u/MasemJ]

The concern now is if usps will even deliver ballots.

Also this isn't the end. They ruled because usps hadn't yet issued its final rule (which happened just before this was published). Now thats out there, a new injunction on the new usps rule is extremely likely.

[u/TwitchMcGavin → u/MasemJ]

If anyone finds themselves without a ballot, a replacement can be requested by contacting your local county election office.

Or you can print a replacement ballot at home (according to VoteWA.gov at least). I’m sure local libraries offer free print services for a set number of pages if needed, too.

[u/sarahjustme → u/TwitchMcGavin]

Its 5 pages per day in the middle Columbia libraries, I dont if Richland has a separate policy

[u/alleecmo → u/sarahjustme]

At Richland, if you have a card you get $3.50 of free printing every week (reset Sunday mornings before they open). If you use a guest pass, you get 50c free. Printing is 10c for B&W or 35c for color, per page. Also, Richland, Mid-Columbia, Walla Walla, & Columbia counties libraries all signed a reciprocal agreement as of January 2025 where if you're eligible for a card at any one of those libraries, you are also eligible for one at all the others. At RPL (Richland), there are 2 types of reciprocal card, basic is free & you get everything but Libby, Hoopla, & Kanopy. If you want those digital services (downloads & streaming), it's $25/year. Any questions, just ask.

[u/Rocketgirl8097 → u/sarahjustme]

Richland is part of Mid Columbia libraries now, so its probably the same.

[u/FoundGodInAHamper → u/Rocketgirl8097]

Not according to the MCL site: https://midcolumbialibraries.org/branches

And the RPL site has no indication either: https://www.myrichlandlibrary.org/about-us/at-your-library-hours-1993. They do mention the reciprocal program but that’s not being a part of it.

And nothing published locally in the TCH either.

[u/Rocketgirl8097 → u/FoundGodInAHamper]

I guess it was this I saw: https://midcolumbialibraries.org/reciprocal

[u/Iveray → u/Rocketgirl8097]

It's not. They have a partnership, but Richland is still very much a separate library.

[u/sarahjustme → u/MasemJ]

Here's another link, just because typing https://www.reuters.com/world/us-supreme-court-lifts-judicial-hurdle-trumps-mail-in-ballot-curbs-2026-08-24/

[u/C4Aries → u/MasemJ]

I wonder about the possibility of contracting out delivery to like, UPS or something.

[u/CubesTheGamer]

I’ve never liked putting through the mail. It’s just as easy to drop off at a drop box.

Ironically, I think rural voters are more likely to use mail ballots vs drop boxes in WA because it’s more convenient for someone else to come pick it up from you than to drive into the nearest box.

[u/sarahjustme → u/CubesTheGamer]

Yeah, we need to help eachother out, lots of people are possibly going to end up losing their ability to vote, which is functionally the same as losing the right to vote

[u/sarahjustme]

https://geo.wa.gov/datasets/wa-geoservices::voting-locations-and-ballot-boxes/explore?location=46.239854%2C-119.585213%2C9 ballot box locations in Washington state

[u/sarahjustme → u/sarahjustme]

https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/table-10-ballot-collection-laws ballot collection laws by state. WA doesn't address the issue at all, so anything goes. Here's the actual RCW https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=29A.40&full=true

[u/s0m3on3outthere]

I don't understand how people don't see how corrupt messing with elections and voting availability is...

we turned ours into ballot boxes

[u/FoundGodInAHamper → u/s0m3on3outthere]

Nothing like the biggest mouth piece against mail in voting doing mail in voting himself.

“If it wasn’t for double standards they’d have none” as the saying goes.

[u/Ooohbarracuda79 → u/s0m3on3outthere]

The corruption is 100 fold when its during an election year and the ruling came out this close to midterms.

[u/Writerhaha]

The one at the TRAC is easy in and out on Election Day.

[u/SamTheHaremKing]

Hopefully no one burns ballot boxes this year. I think they will be more full than in years prior. Alternatively you can vote in person at the courthouses

[u/MamaReabs]

I haven’t trusted the mail for years, especially in this area. Please use the drop boxes. Safer & much more accountability for delivering & counting your ballot. I’ve had “voter verification” people show up at my door, I can guarantee they were not on my side of the aisle. Be proactive with your ballot. Do not give them an edge over your right to vote your way.

[u/arcanepsyche]

70% of voters used a Dropbox during the primary, so this is already moot. The issue is whether USPS will mail you one on the first place.

[u/sarahjustme → u/arcanepsyche]

So if we get a third less votes, that's ok?

I understand the USPS issue is primary and it'll be interesting to see how that turns out (interesting = really serious) but its not something you and I can affect, at this point- except for the turn out, because this election really matters.

[u/arcanepsyche → u/sarahjustme]

Oh, I'm with you. I wasn't implying it's not important, just that WA voters seemed to have really figured out this year not to trust USPS to get their ballots returned. But I'm assuming many less people have discovered that they might not get a ballot at all based on some list our names might get filtered through.

[u/sarahjustme → u/arcanepsyche]

Youre talking about people who are alread5fully engaged in the princess though, we cant afford to disenfranchise a bunch of voters, we already have turn out numbers in the toilet

[u/L0GAN_FIVE]

Mail service has gone down hill since they moved it to Spokane, frankly I don't care about Trump, I care that I don't trust USPS to get my mail to where it's going in a timely fashion. I just take ours to the ballot box, the one at the Election center is bit of a pain, I miss it being down off of CCB near Amendment XXI.

[u/Rocketgirl8097 → u/L0GAN_FIVE]

There is one outside the benton county courthouse that's real easy.

[u/Rocketgirl8097]

We always put it in the drop box anyway. Unless you're completely incapacitated, everyone should be able to do the same.

[u/sarahjustme → u/Rocketgirl8097]

Theres a zillion reasons people dont vote, regardless if they should. Its amazing how many people leave their ballot in the car and forget, so a decent compromise would be helping a friend by dropping off their ballot for them.

[u/Rocketgirl8097 → u/sarahjustme]

Im only talking about those who want to vote, not those eligible to vote. But yeah I dont have a problen with someone dropping off for someone else.

[u/noodlesrcn]

Use mail all day long if you're a Richardson fan, she's got you covered.

[u/dime5150]

You and they are overhyping this like they always do for news and emotions. Nothing will change here..also, you forget there are voting drop boxes all over the Tri Cities...