Postal consolidation could impact state elections process

Editor:

Dear Postmaster General Donahoe,

As the United States Postal Service considers its plan to consolidate mail processing operations in Montana and other states, it is important to highlight the impact the proposal could potentially have on a state's elections process.

Here in Montana, an increasing number of our citizens are choosing to vote by mail. In Montana's 2010 Federal General Election, 47 percent of the votes were cast by absentee mail ballot. That's a large increase from just 10 years ago, when only 15 percent of the votes were cast by absentee ballot. We fully anticipate the percentage of absentee mail ballots cast in Montana in 2012 to exceed any previous year's total, moving the state closer to all mail-ballot elections — a process that would save counties an estimated $2 million every election cycle.

This ongoing shift to mail ballots increases the valuable role that the U.S. Postal Service will play in helping facilitate fair and well-run elections in Montana. The cities where you are considering consolidation — Butte, Havre, and Helena — all have a heavy percentage of absentee mail ballot voters. In 2010, 39 percent of the votes in Hill County (Havre) were cast by absentee mail ballot, along with 36 percent in Silver Bow (Butte), and 41 percent Lewis and Clark (Helena). Please keep in mind that the post offices in these areas serve multiple surrounding counties, many with an equally large or larger number of absentee mail ballot voters.

Montana law sets deadlines for counties to send mail ballots to voters before an election. Voters then have until the end of Election Day to return their voted ballot. Postmarks are not accepted; therefore, the ballot must be in the election administrator's office before the deadline. Any delays in the mail processing operation could unintentionally discourage Montanans from voting by mail.

Addressing inefficiencies in government is a priority across the country. During my first term in office as Secretary of State, I cut office spending by 18 percent because I knew that common-sense savings were achievable and necessary. Our office savings did not diminish our services to customers, and I hope that the United States Postal Service has a similar goal in mind as it evaluates mail service in Montana.

Every impact must be acknowledged before making a decision. I urge you to consider the potential impact on elections in Montana and across the country as any proposed consolidation or closure of a United States Postal Service facility moves forward in Congress.

Linda McCulloch

Montana Secretary of State