What voters can do to work around postal concerns this election season

Election season is here, and many residents of greater Riverdale are weighing how they will cast their ballots. For some, recent resident concerns about mail theft, missing checks and packages, and postal understaffing have raised understandable questions about whether voting by mail remains a dependable option.

Those concerns should not be dismissed. Public confidence in both the postal system and the electoral process matters. But rather than potentially allowing uncertainty to discourage participation in our democratic systems, residents should be aware of steps they can take to help ensure their ballots are delivered and counted.

One of the greatest risks to any mail-in ballot is procrastination. Voters who request their ballot early give themselves more time to receive it, complete it correctly, and return it without rushing. Waiting until the final days before a deadline leaves little room for unexpected delays, whether they involve the postal service or simple human error.

For the June 23 primary election, applications for early mail ballots or absentee ballots must be received by the board of elections no later than 10 days before the election, according to the New York City and New York state boards of elections. Those who miss that deadline may still apply for an absentee or early mail ballot to be received in person through the day before the election, according to the New York State Board of Elections. Mail ballots must be postmarked no later than June 23 and received by June 30, or they may be returned in person at a poll site or board of elections office by 9 p.m. on Election Day, as stated by the New York State Board of Elections.

It is important to note that mail is not guaranteed to be postmarked the day it gets picked up. However, for those who are able to make it to the post office in person, the option exists to request a manual, local postmark at the retail counter, according to a “Postmarking Myths and Facts” statement released by the United States Postal Service earlier this year.

Delivering your ballot in person can be a good way to assuage concerns about potential theft at neighborhood mailboxes. But it is important to recognize that for some voters who opt for a mail-in ballot, this is not possible. Still, taking proactive measures can smooth some potential procedural bumps for voters for whom in-person drop offs are not an option.

Once a ballot arrives, voters should carefully review all instructions before filling it out. Ballots can encounter problems not just from failure to be delivered on time, but also from small human errors that can be easy to overlook. Taking a few extra minutes to ensure all required information is completed and signatures are provided can prevent unnecessary complications.

Voters should also take advantage of ballot-tracking tools. New York’s ballot-tracking system allows voters to keep track of their ballot applications and verify when a ballot is sent, received and accepted for counting.

The larger point here is that every voter deserves confidence that their ballot will count. In our community, where residents have voiced legitimate concerns about mail reliability, the solution is not to withdraw from the process. It is to make use of the safeguards and options already available, and combat uncertainty with action.

Democracy depends on participation. Whether residents choose to vote by mail or in person, the most important decision is to vote.