Be Careful Absentee Ballot Voters or your ballot will NOT be counted.
Voting by mail is a great way to vote IF you follow the instructions. I am a mail carrier in Ann Arbor, Michigan and I see lots of absentee ballots. Most of the elderly have voted this way for years and they know the rules.
Yesterday, I was talking with my buddy Greg and he had his absentee ballot all stamped and ready to go. I got him the application online and was happy that he had filled it out. It was a vote for Obama. I checked the postage for him and it was fine.
What he forgot was to SIGN THE BACK OF THE ENVELOPE! His ballot would not even be opened and the vote would not count. He penned his signature on the back and all is well.
Any first time absentee voters should carefully read all of the instructions. Be sure to sign the back of the ballot and date it. There is probably a secrecy envelope inside that will hold your ballot. In Michigan we must insert it into the secrecy envelope and leave a numbered tab on the ballot.