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Election 2004

'04 absentee votes require more postage

By Times Staff
Published October 26, 2004

The self-addressed return envelope that comes with a Pinellas County absentee ballot has two spaces on it, for two stamps.

But two stamps won't always cover the fare. Many absentee ballots need 83 cents - or more than two 37-cent stamps.

Florida Democratic Party officials are so concerned about the mistake that they've been reminding absentee voters by phone to put extra postage on their absentee ballots.

Other voters wonder whether the ballots will get returned right before next Tuesday's election.

But postal officials say not to worry.

As long as the envelope has some stamps on it, the Postal Service will deliver the ballot to the Supervisor of Elections offices, U.S. Postal Service spokesman Gary Sawtelle said.

Taxpayers will then have to pick up the extra postage.

In Pinellas County, Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark's office could not explain Monday why she printed envelopes that didn't indicate the right number of stamps.

Deputy Supervisor of Elections Joan Brock referred questions to a new spokeswoman, who began work Monday and could not be reached for comment.

[Last modified October 26, 2004, 00:39:23]


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