Front Cover 2 postal bulletin 22437 (3-17-16) Contents COVER STORY Stamp Services 2016 Election Mail/Political Mail Pictorial Postmarks Announcement . 35 Communications Plan . 3 How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Digital Color or Traditional Postmarks . 38 POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND FORMS UPDATES Manuals PULL-OUT INFORMATION DMM Revision: Military Mail Addressing and Restriction Codes — Update . 29 Fraud DMM Revision: Periodicals Carrier Route Pallets . 29 Invalid USPS Corporate Account Numbers. 13 DMM Revision: Parcel Select . 30 Missing, Lost, or Stolen U.S. Money Order Forms . 14 Missing, Lost, or Stolen Canadian Money Order Publications Forms . 20 Publication 52 Revision: Change to Age Verifying U.S. Postal Service Money Orders . 22 Verification for Mailing of Cigarettes and Counterfeit Canadian Money Order Forms . 22 Smokeless Tobacco Products . 30 Toll-Free Number Available to Verify Canadian Publication 431 Revision: Changes to Post Office Money Orders . 22 Box Service and Caller Service Fee Groups. 31 Other Information Forms Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail . 23 PS Form 571 Revision: Policy Change for Freely Associated States (FAS) Restrictions . 28 Internal Postal Service Investigations . 32 PS Form 8190 Revision: USPS-NALC Joint Step A Grievance Form. 32 POSTAL BULLETIN INDEX ORGANIZATION INFORMATION 2015 Annual Index . PB 22432 (1-7-16) Information Security Cybersecurity Lockdown: Keep Your Information and Computer Equipment Safe . 33 USPS National Emergency Hotline Mailing and Shipping Services Is your facility operating? Call 888-363-7462 Mail Alert . 33 When Boxes and Envelopes Have Wings . 35 Retail Stamps by Mail — Brochure Ordering Find the latest in mail and delivery information Information . 35 and services offered by U.S. Postal™ in the Postal Bulletin at http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin. Also on the Web at about.usps.com/postal-bulletin Cover Story postal bulletin 22437 (3-17-16) 3 Cover Story 2016 Election Mail/Political Mail Communications Plan Contents Background . 4 What’s an Absentee Ballot? . 9 Key Dates . 4 Absentee and Early Voting . 9 Key Elections . 4 Vote-By-Mail . 10 Election Mail . 4 Tag 57 . 10 Election 2016 — State-By-State. 7 Tag 191 . 11 Political Campaign Mail . 8 Military — APO/FPO/DPO . 11 Area Election Mail/Political Mail Contacts . 8 Military — APO/FPO/DPO Absentee Ballots. 11 Resources. 9 Military — APO/FPO/DPO Returning Election Mail vs. Political Campaign Mail . 9 Absentee Ballots . 12 4 postal bulletin 22437 (3-17-16) Cover Story Background Election Mail The Postal Service™ is in the midst of primary season Plan Objectives and preparing for the general election in November 2016. Educate and inform the public on proper mail han- In addition to the presidential campaign, there will be high- dling, key dates, and general election mail/political visibility congressional, gubernatorial, and other state and mail tips. local races. Reinforce message that the Postal Service takes its With elections comes Election Mail and Political Cam- job of delivering ballots and other election/political paign Mail and proper handling of each is critical. mail very seriously. Concerns have been raised regarding how the change in Emphasize correct use for Tag 57, Political Campaign delivery standards could require additional time for Election Mailing. Mail, Political Campaign Mail, and ballots to reach voters. The Postal Service takes these concerns very seriously and Highlight correct use for Tag 191, Domestic and plans are in place from coast to coast to ensure the timely International Mail-In Ballots, and ensure this mail is receipt, processing, and delivery of election and political correctly identified and promptly processed. mail. Build awareness that official Election Mail and Politi- cal Campaign Mail are normally related to the same Generally, citizens use one of three methods to cast election event, but they are actually two distinct their votes — a traditional polling place via electronic or types of mail. paper ballot, an absentee paper ballot, or early in-person voting. Although traditional poll voting is still the most pop- Assure election officials that ballots will be handled ular method, voting by mail is increasing across broad seg- correctly and educate them on the changes related ments of the American electorate. For example, in the 2014 to service standards so they can make changes to midterm federal election, 25 percent of voters cast ballots their processes in order for ballots to be mailed and by mail — an increase of 3.5 percent over the 2012 presi- returned in time. dential election. Increase attentiveness among employees that when they encounter official Election Mail or Political Cam- Key Dates paign Mail in the mail stream to always handle it Presidential election primaries begin February 1 in promptly and provide it with equal care and attention. Iowa — and continue through June. Key Messages Super Tuesday — March 1. The U.S. Mail is an important part of the U.S. election General Election — November 8. process, and the Postal Service is confident in the Key Elections dependable and timely delivery of Election Mail and Political Campaign Mail. Presidential Election — November 8. Voting by mail works and the Postal Service can be A total of 469 seats in the U.S. Congress are up for trusted to deliver ballots in a timely manner. election: The Postal Service is instituting a state-by-state out- — 34 Senate seats — AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, reach program to ensure election boards, political FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MO, NV, candidates, and mailers are aware of the deadlines NH, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, UT, VT, for Election Mail and Political Mail. WA, WI. The Postal Service takes pride in the popularity of — All 435 House seats. U.S. Mail as an efficient and effective means for citi- 12 Gubernatorial — DE, IN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NH, zens to participate in the voting process. OR, UT, VT, WA, WV. The Postal Service expects to handle millions of bal- 2 Territorial Gubernatorial — PR, AS. lots this election cycle — proof that mail is a depend- Numerous state and local elections. able and protected way to cast your vote. The Postal See chart on page 7 for details. Service strongly recommends allowing five days for the safe delivery of Election Mail ballots. More information: http://www.usps.com/electionmail. Cover Story postal bulletin 22437 (3-17-16) 5 Key Voter Message — Return Ballots Franked Mail Envelope Customers who opt to vote through the U.S. Mail need to familiarize themselves with their local jurisdiction’s requirements regarding timely submissions of absentee ballots, including postmarking requirements. Voters should contact their local election officials for questions about local deadlines. The Postal Service recommends mailing ballots early to account for any unforeseen events or weather issues and to allow for timely receipt by election officials. Key Election Official and Political Mailer Message — Franked Mail Label Return Ballots Delivery times vary based on the class of mail, where it’s entered, and where it’s going. Most mail will be delivered within 5 days. Standard Mail® may take longer depending on where the mail is being sent from and delivered to. Elec- tion Mail coordinators can provide additional information about standard delivery times. Whether the decision is to use First-Class Mail® or Stan- dard Mail, working closely with local Postal Service election mail coordinators to determine a delivery time for the mail- ing is strongly encouraged. Contact information for coordi- nators can be found at http://www.usps.com/electionmail. FAQs Mass Franked Mailings are identified by Tag 11, Con- 1. What is Election Mail? gressional Mail, and are NOT eligible to use the red Tag 57. Franked Mail should not be detained, except for mail Election Mail is any item mailed to or from authorized security, and must be dispatched and delivered as election officials that enables citizens to participate in addressed. the voting process, such as ballot materials, voter registration cards, absentee applications, and polling Tag 11 place notifications. 2. What is Political Mail? Political Mail is any material mailed at First-Class Mail or Standard Mail prices for political campaign pur- poses by a registered political candidate, a campaign committee (federal, state, or local), or a committee of a political party (Democratic National Committee, Republican Congressional Campaign Committee). 3. What is Franked Mail? Franked Mail is official mail sent by members and members-elect of Congress, the Vice-President, and 4. How many states use Vote-By-Mail? other authorized individuals. Mail must relate to the Twenty-two states have some form of Vote-By-Mail mailer’s official business, activities, and duties. elections. Three of the 22 states — Oregon, Wash- Franked Mail has a written or facsimile signature of ington, and Colorado — hold all elections by mail. 19 an authorized user in the upper right corner of the states besides CO, OR, and WA allow “certain types envelope or a franked label, followed by “M.C.” of elections” to be held entirely by mail. For more standing for member of Congress, or “U.S.S.” for information, visit: http://www.ncsl.org/research/ U.S. Senate. A Franked Mail label is required for elections-and-campaigns/all-mail-elections.aspx. items larger than a flat sized envelope. Franked Mail 5. How many ballots is the Postal Service projecting must not be returned for postage or delivered to the it will deliver for this year’s elections? recipient as “postage due.” The Postal Service handled more than 25 million return ballots (not including military ballots) in the last Presidential election. The expectation is that there 6 postal bulletin 22437 (3-17-16) Cover Story will be more ballots this year since there is another ical party, or political viewpoint are endorsed over Vote-By-Mail state.