Called my County Elections Comm - re: Bone Folder for Mail In Ballots

[Hestia]

I woke up this a.m. thinking about our horrible mail in ballots and came up with an idea that would help with mail in ballots across the country.

There is a tool called a Bone Folder [link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_folder|] that has been around since at least the Middle Ages. It helps to give a sharp crease in paper, card stock, heavyweight paper and smooths out creases.

It would save wear and tear on muscles/shoulders of the poll workers having to smooth out the ballots. Here, each and every envelope is opened up and smoothed out by the poll workers.

I had looked online at Joann's and Michael's and told her that Joann's is having a sale on them right now and Michael's has coupons for their items.

It would make the process so much easier because ballots are apt to be kicked out due to the crease. Someone (!) in their infinite wisdom put Joe & Kamala's "bubble" right on the crease of our mail-in ballots. We are the largest and bluest county in our state and I want to make sure there are no SNAFU's over some "design flaw." - and.Every.Vote.Counts.

I could tell from talking to her that she was not feigning interest, that she said she was taking the suggestion to her boss and it looked like she may just be going shopping either today or tomorrow.

It is an inexpensive tool - $4-$6 for the cheaper ones, can go up to $24 (!) (thanks * tariffs) for a good one.

Might want to pass the info to someone working in the ballot rooms - just helping out the shoulders of those would be magnificent.

[Lefta Dissenter]

1. Thanks for being proactive!

I didn't know what you were talking about, so appreciate the link. I now know that that's what I should be calling my Sharpie Retractable Highlighter. I've been using it as a "bone folder" for years! None of my other pens or highlighters have the right shape or smoothness to work for this purpose.

Anyway, thanks again!

[Native]

3. I've been using my triangular scale for this since forever.

[lagomorph777]

2. A simple butter knife will do the trick too.

[Hestia]

4. My butter knife is serrated. A bone folder is smooth on both sides, straight and gives a

crisper edge. I figured that since it MIGHT be thought as a weapon these days, a synthetic bone folder would be safer all the way around.

[lagomorph777]

5. I meant the smooth-edged type