Who needs the Russians?

We really don’t need the Russians to fool with elections. We are perfectly able to do it ourselves.

After a lengthy string of local issues relating to elections and ballots, now the state has stepped in to confuse voters as well.

One instance involves the Whitman County ballots.

The state declared that election ballots would be postage free. The return envelope says that no postage is necessary. Making ballots free of any mailing charge is the result of a deal at the state level. All Washington ballots can be mailed for free. No ballot in Washington should be charged postage.

Sounds simple.

Also on the envelope is the statement that postage will be paid by addressee. The addressee is the person or office to receive the ballot.

Every voter opening their ballot package should feel at ease. They do not need to pay postage.

That sense of confidence may evaporate once the packet is scrutinized, however. On the security or privacy sleeve is the statement that the voter is to place a first class stamp on the return envelope and then mail it.

Which instruction should the voter follow?

Follow the outside information. Mail the ballot without a stamp––postage free.

Another instance involves ballots in Grant and Asotin counties.

Apparently, voters in these counties received ballots with a different error. Those return envelopes had no indication that postage was free. If in doubt or confused or simply trying to make sure your vote counts, the secretary of state says put on a stamp or drop the ballot in one of the drop boxes. This will ensure that the ballot will count.

As of this writing, these are the only misses that are public. The secretary of state confidently declared there is time to fix the problems.

A pessimistic view is that there is still plenty of time to discover more errors. On the positive side, he may be right.

Another positive thing is the fact that this may keep the Russians at bay and keep them from meddling in this election. They might figure we are doing well enough on our own. Or they too may be so confused that they are just going to leave it alone. As they say, a ruble saved is a ruble earned.