With ballots being received by the USCF's accounting firm in Montgomery, N.Y.,
it may be open to question whether the July 7 postmark for ballots is legal.
From the USCF Bylaws: Article VI: Executive Board. Section 5. Election.
"Ballots...shall be included in an issue of Chess Life to be mailed prior to
June 10 with ballots to be returned no later than July 5 of a year in which
there is an election so that the ballots can be counted no later than July 20."
There is nothing in the bylaws regarding postmarks. The bylaw clearly states
that "ballots to be returned no later than July 5." But setting a July 7
postmark and allowing ballots to be received by the independent agency, i.e.
the accounting firm, no later than 5 p.m., Thursday, July 17, seems contrary to
the bylaws. Will ballots received by the firm by that deadline but with a
postmark after July 7 be discounted? If those ballots are not counted, then a
number of USCF voting members will have voted in vain.

George Mirijanian