Mailing absentee ballots to Manila

Received my absentee ballot from Hawaii today via email. I understand that if we get the ballots to the US Embassy in Manila they will ensure the ballots get into the US Postal system. However I'm not very confident the Philippine mail service will get my mail to the Embassy in Manila timely.

Can I ask what might be the most timely and reliable method for getting my mail either to the US or to the US Embassy in Manila?

 

I'm going to send a document to the UK using a courier. I would not use philpost at this time.

 

In my opinion, DHL is very reliable unless it is a package in which case no service is reliable due to customs delays. A ballot is a document so no problem. They will charge you $35 or so but you can track it; you can send it from their office on San Jose street. We are fortunate that NC also allows fax and scanning plus email (our choice). We emailed the scanned ballots and received confirmation of receipt. You are correct about local snail mail. But they generally get it there too after about 14 days, at least it usually gets there.


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Although they are not accepting International shipments, LBC will get it to the US Embassy in Manila expeditiously.

 

Using the US embassy, they get your ballots to the US and mail it out to your state officials for you but you must provide addresses and postage. The website says you have to place your ballot in a postage paid envelope or a stamped envelope with enough postage to get it to your state election officials. I suppose you can purchase US stamps at the embassy or Cebu consulate but how would somebody gets US stamps in DGTE? They must assume we have US stamps. But we were able to email to NC officials so not an issue for us.


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But the local post office here can only apply Philippine postage, not US Postage. Yet, the ballots are brought to the US and mailed domestic from the US. I think the embassy is expecting a stamped envelope with US domestic postage. No problem except, where do people get the US stamps? PhilPost would not have them. How many pesos in stamps does it take to mail US domestic to the County Board of Elections? But maybe I am over-thinking this lol. Thanks for comment.


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I think that if I was in your shoes I would use either of these options
a. International Express Mail through Philpost, so skip the US embassy in the Philippines. Cost is Php 1,460 up to 250 grams.
(should get to destination in the US plenty in time). Should work for all of the USA except Guam and Hawaii



b. or send by DHL directly to the recipient in the USA (should work for all of the US) Cost Php 1,881.60 up to 250 grams

Seems to me the difference in cost isn't worth the hassle of sending stuff to the embassy first and then rely on them to get things organized in the US.

 

Yes, thanks and I agree, personally we sent our ballots by email because our state accepts email and fax. I appreciate your information on PhilPost Express Mail; I never knew it existed and I might try it some time. We had planned on using DHL for which we have been very successful in the past sending documents. And I agree, relying on the US embassy to get it right, knowing the potential confusion going on with our new mail-in voting system (assuming they courts approve it). The US postal system will be in chaos if they actually try to do 80 million mail-in ballots at election time.


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Went to post a document to the UK Using Philpost express. The girl behind the counter said it normally takes 2 weeks but because of the pandemic it will take 2 to 3 months. @ 1,800 pesos.