The City of McIntosh considers mail ballots for future elections

During the McIntosh City Council meeting on Thursday, September 14th, the Council was presented the option of switching the City's voting process to mail ballots.

Michelle Cote, the Polk County Director of Property Records was present at the meeting to explain the process of McIntosh city residents voting by mail instead of coming to the Community Center, the City's polling location on election day.

The process is a simplified version for all involved, though there is a method to get your vote to the County to be counted. All registered voters would receive a ballot in the mail. The voter marks the ballot, puts it in a secrecy envelope or sleeve and then into a separate mailing envelope, signs an affidavit on the exterior of the mailing envelope, and returns the package via mail or by dropping it off.

Voting-by-mail is relatively new on our electoral landscape. This method was first tried in Monterey, California in 1977. Since that time, hundreds of elections have been held by mail – from local ballot initiatives all the way up to some contests for federal office. 

Advocates for mail balloting argue that because of its strong democratic tradition, the United States should continue to eradicate barriers to the franchise, and make voting easier through mail-in elections.

Mail balloting has several advantages over traditional polling. First, it is cost effective. Second, it has resulted in increased participation among voters. Third, it is easier for election officials to conduct. Fourth, it allows for a more accurate picture of eligible voters, by keeping voting lists up-to-date. Fifth, it gives voters a longer opportunity to study the ballot and find answers to their questions.

Possible Disadvantages are the tradition of voting as a civic experience of voting. Research shows that voters show a preference for voting in the manner that is already familiar to them.

Disparate effect on some populations as mail delivery is not uniform across the nation. Election materials are often written at a college level.

Security questions during all-mail elections (and absentee voting), coercion by family members or others might occur.

There is a slight savings with mail ballots compared to the traditional method of voting. Mail ballots when said and done would cost the City approximately $2 each.

There are ccurrently 317 voters in the City of McIntosh. According the the last election results from 2016, there were 255 voters from the City that voted on that Tuesday.