I personally think that requiring postage on the ballots constitutes a poll tax and discriminates against those who don't have stamps at home - which probably tends to hit the poor harder. So I am all in favor of doing anything legal to reduce the vote suppression due to Hillary Hall's the Colorado State Legislature's poll tax.
In this comment Alan lists several businesses that are offering to provide postage for people as a public service. I agree with the concept. But I question if it is legal. It is illegal to pay someone to vote. And the stamp is directly tied to someone voting and it is effectively reimbursing the voter for the cost of their voting.
I don't want to get the businesses involved in trouble because their intent is to address a wrong. But two wrongs do not make a right. Possibly the answer is to give anyone walking in the store a 1¢ stamp as that is sufficient and the stores can offer that to everyone, not just voters.
Update 1: My question is not is this reasonable or fair. My question is what does the law say and election law is akin to counting the number of angels dancing on the head of a pin. Two individuals saying hi to each other can make the election actions of one illegal - as the two are then working in concert.
Update 2: After just 1 follow up email, 1 follow up phone call, and 10 day of waiting I got an answer from Hillary (speedy is not her middle name) Hall's office on the question of what do they do if they receive a ballot with a 1¢ stamp on it.
From: Jessie Cornelius (County Clerk's office)
If a voter places the incorrect postage on a ballot, their ballot would still be received and processed by the Clerk's office.Update 2.5: While the Clerk's office pays the rest of the postage - that may be illegal.
Update 3: It's not legal. (I hope they take no action against the restaurants because they were just trying to do the right thing.) From Dianne Marshall (Boulder City Clerk's office):
Hillary just called with a response from the SOS. The CRS (Colorado Revised Statutes) 1-1-13-720 does not allow for any person (natural or business) to provide anything of monetary value (stamps included) free to electors. CRS 1-7.5-107 4b states it is the responsibility of the elector to provide postage.
And apparently it's a state statue that you pay postage a poll tax to vote by mail. I still think it's wrong and is discriminatory against the disorganized and the poor.
