There are over 100 ballots that have never been picked up. We are fast approaching the point where it will be too late to get your ballot in on time by normal methods. Here is what you need to know.
Depending on your jurisdiction, ballots either have to arrive by November 3rd, or be postmarked by November 3rd. This information is inside the ballot most of the time, so you will need to determine your own due date.
- If it is due by November 3rd, there is a good chance it won't arrive it is not mailed by Wednesday October 28th. After October 28th, if you want it to get there, you will need to pay for a rush service. After Friday October 30th, it probably won't get there. You also need to see in the instructions for the acceptable deliver methods. Some jurisdictions only allow USPS. If they allow FedEx or UPS, you might be ok to send it overnight, as long as it is done by noon on November 2nd. If it doesn't list the allowed mailing method, but it is going to a PO box, it must be sent by USPS.
- If it must be postmarked by November 3rd, the cutoff for that for postage paid returns will be Friday October 30th. Anything sent after Friday will not be guaranteed to be postmarked before November 3rd. The Ithaca Post Office no longer guarantees same day postmarking. However, we have our own postage machine at Ithaca College, which will postmark the day it is handed to us. If you need to take advantage of this, know that you will need to pay the postage, even if the envelope says postage paid. Last day to safely do this would be November 2nd, though technically we could do it on November 3rd as well.
If you have any questions email icmailservice@ithaca.edu. Note that we are not open from 5pm Saturday until 8:30am Monday, so will not see emails between those times.