Mail Visibility

Election Mail visibility refers to the range of tools available to provide increased insight and trackability for your mailpiece within the postal network. In some cases, these tools can allow election officials to track their mail through the entire network.

Election officials should use all available tools to improve the visibility of their Election Mail within the postal network. The Postal Service strongly recommends the

use of green Tag 191, dedicated Service Type IDentifiers (STIDs), and serialized Intelligent Mail barcodes for ballots. In addition, the Official Election Mail^® logo and the Election Mail Checkbox should be used for all Election Mail, including ballots.

• Tag 191
• The Postal Service recommends the use of green Tag 191, Domestic and International Ballots, to identify trays and sacks that contain Ballot Mail.
• Although use of the tag is optional, it provides greater visibility to Ballot Mail at mail entry.
• Service Type IDentifier
• The Postal Service strongly recommends the use of customized Service Type IDentifiers (STIDs), specifically for ballots to improve Ballot Mail visibility within the automation environment.
• These STIDs have proven instrumental in identifying and tracking Ballot Mail.
• Be sure to use the latest STIDs for each election cycle mailing.
• Uniquely Serialized Intelligent Mail Barcode
• A uniquely serialized Intelligent Mail barcode, or IMb, is a Postal Service barcode that provides the ability to track the delivery and return of individual ballots — increasing your visibility of this important mail within the postal network.
• Because of the central role a uniquely serialized IMb plays in identification, tracking, sorting, and payment, we strongly recommend the use of a uniquely serialized IMb on Election Mail.
• Official Election Mail Logo
• When the Official Election Mail logo appears on a qualifying mailpiece, voters recognize the mail as important and distinct from partisan political mailings.
• Additionally, the logo serves to identify official Election Mail for Postal Service workers and distinguishes it from the millions of other mailpieces that are processed daily.
• Election Mail Checkbox
• The Postal Service uses the Election Mail Checkbox in PostalOne!^® processing and our Postage Statement forms to get increased visibility of Election Mail in the mailstream.

For more information on any of these visibility tools, please review their fact sheets included in this KIT.