Absentee ballots set for Louisiana voters in NMI

Louisiana voters who are currently in the CNMI are still eligible to vote in their home state’s upcoming elections, with the U.S. Postal Service mobilizing its resources to help ensure the timely distribution and delivery of absentee ballots for the polls, creating one of the largest outreach efforts in its history.

These efforts include a special poster of mailing deadlines that were placed in each of the Postal Service’s 38,000 Post Offices across the country, including all offices in the Honolulu District, which encompasses Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Saipan, Rota and Tinian.

The Postal Service is working with the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Election Division to spread the word that voters displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita could still be eligible to vote in their home state.

“We are committed to the residents of New Orleans, wherever they are living now. It is important that displaced residents understand that we will to do our part to make sure that absentee ballots are delivered and counted,” said Honolulu District Manager Daryl Ishizaki

In addition to the posters, the Postal Service has taken the following steps to support the Louisiana Secretary of State’s efforts to reach displaced Louisiana voters and to help candidates understand the guidelines and deadlines for sending election-related campaign materials:

– Lifted the embargo on bulk rate for campaign and political mailings, making it easier for candidates to mail campaign pieces.

– Regular meetings have taken place with Al Ater, Louisiana Secretary of State, and his staff to make sure that we can address their concerns and support them in this absentee ballot effort.

– Every candidate has received a letter of information from the Postal Service explaining mailing options, stressing deadlines and explaining services and options available to them.

– Postal Service representatives have meet with and sent letters to mailing houses that routinely handle election and campaign mail and/or were identified by candidates as the mail houses they were using to process campaign literature.

– The non-partisan “Mailing Resources for Election Officials” website focuses on the definition of “election mail” and walks users through a series of documents, fact sheets and frequently asked questions on how to plan, address and design election mail. This resource and training sessions also have been made available.

– Outreach to the news media, including radio stations and networks, to promote mailing deadlines for absentee ballots.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will be in Louisiana helping to monitor the flow of absentee ballots. The Postal Service plays no role in how elections are carried out in the United States, although it is fully authorized to inform and educate election officials about USPS products and services available.

For the April 22 Orleans municipal election, absentee ballots must be received by the Orleans registrar’s office or the Secretary of State’s Office by April 21. These ballots should be mailed by Monday, April 17, to be delivered on time. Some new laws provide for a one day extension of these deadlines

Displaced voters needing additional information or an absentee ballot should contact the Louisiana Secretary of State Elections Division: 1-800-883-2805; elections@sos.louisiana.gov; or by mail: PO BOX 94125, BATON ROUGE LA 70804-9125. (PR)