For mail-in voting, Erie County residents won't need to add stamps. Here's why

Erie County voters will not have to pay for postage when returning their mail-in or absentee ballots in the upcoming November election.

On Friday, the Erie County Board of Elections voted to authorize the use of county funds to pay for postage on mail-in and absentee ballots. That means voters who choose to vote by mail will be able to complete and return their ballots in their included envelopes without incurring any postage costs.

“I feel very strongly about providing the best opportunity for everyone to have their vote counted,” Erie County Councilman Rock Copeland said. “In my view, it’s free to vote on Election Day. I’m not sure that people should have to incur any cost or to give money to the government ― in effect, the Postal Service ― to have their vote counted.”

Copeland added, "People that are experiencing a disability and an inability to leave their home request a mail-in ballot because they’re not able to get to a polling place, and therefore, may also have a hard time going to get postage. This is an opportunity to make sure that everybody’s vote is counted and they don’t have needless restrictions on their right to vote.”

Potential cost to county

Erie County Clerk Karen Chillcott said the cost to the county will depend on how many mail-in ballots are returned.

As of Friday, roughly 27,000 applications for mail-in ballots have been requested.

If 40,000 mail-in ballots are ultimately returned in the election, Chillcott estimated postage costs to be around $35,000.

“That is a high estimate if we have 40,000 mail-ballots returned,” she said. “We had less than half of that in November 2023. During COVID, we had about an 89% return rate. It’s generally around 75%.”

Chillcott said the funds will come from the county elections budget and will not require a supplemental appropriation.

Bayle says taxpayers shouldn't 'subsidize a personal choice'

The Board of Elections voted 5-1 in favor of the pre-paid postage option. Voting in favor were Democratic council members Andre Horton, Chris Drexel, Jim Winarski, Terry Scutella and Copeland.

Republican Charlie Bayle voted against it.

“I think the elections office and the Board of Elections have gone above and beyond to make voting as easy and accessible as it can be,” Bayle told the Erie Times-News.

“While I appreciate that a small number are unable to make it to voting location, many make the decision to vote by mail because it's more convenient. I don't think taxpayers should subsidize a personal choice. Like a lot of things in our society, we take away a measure of personal responsibility and accountability with the thought of helping. This is $30-$40,000 placed on the backs of people who do exercise accountability and responsibility.”

Republican Councilwoman Ellen Schauerman was not present at Friday's meeting.

Pa. voting deadlines

Mail-in ballots are expected to be mailed out in early October. The last day to register to vote is Oct. 21. The last day to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot is Oct. 29. The general election will be held Nov. 5.

A.J. Rao can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X @ETNRao.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County will pay postage for for mail-in ballots