As Coronavirus Delays Primary Season, States Weigh Expanding Absentee Voting
4 years, 9 months ago

As Coronavirus Delays Primary Season, States Weigh Expanding Absentee Voting

NPR  

As Coronavirus Delays Primary Season, States Weigh Expanding Absentee Voting Enlarge this image toggle caption Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images The election-year coronavirus pandemic has pushed back elections in more than a dozen states, leading to growing interest in expanding voting by mail this year in order to keep poll workers and voters safe. Sponsor Message Many other states are considering expanding absentee and mail-in voting for the remaining primaries, and even the general election. "We need to make sure there is widespread and extensive voter education so that people know how to vote-by-mail, how to fill out the ballot and envelope and return it," she said. "We're already working 24/7 now," said Jeff Ellington, president and chief operating officer of Runbeck Election Services in Phoenix, which prints and mails ballots in 18 states.

Voting States Voters Ballots Vote Getty Images Voter Mail Morley Clarke Sponsor Message Other States Some Places Some Voters Expanding Absentee  voters  mailin  coronavirus  mail  voter  vote  ballots  votebymail  states  expanding  absentee  delays  voting  season  weigh  primary

History of this topic

Georgia county says more than 3,000 absentee ballots being mailed late just days before election
2 months, 1 week ago

Georgia county says more than 3,000 absentee ballots being mailed late just days before election

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

North Carolina absentee ballots are being distributed following 2-week delay
3 months, 2 weeks ago

North Carolina absentee ballots are being distributed following 2-week delay

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina counties started distributing absentee ballots Tuesday for the November general election to those who requested them, roughly two weeks later than anticipated as a legal challenge forced delays. State law directed that the first absentee ballots were to go out on Sept. 6, which would have made North Carolina the first in the nation to …

North Carolina’s absentee ballot release was delayed by RFK Jr. ruling, but will begin next week
3 months, 3 weeks ago

North Carolina’s absentee ballot release was delayed by RFK Jr. ruling, but will begin next week

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s first absentee ballots for the November election will now be distributed starting late next week, the State Board of Elections announced Friday, days after appeals court judges prevented original ballots containing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s name from being sent. State law directed the first absentee ballots be mailed or transmitted to those already asking no …

The first general election ballots are going in the mail as the presidential contest nears
3 months, 4 weeks ago

The first general election ballots are going in the mail as the presidential contest nears

Associated Press  

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The first general election ballots for the presidential race are going out Wednesday as Alabama officials begin mailing them to absentee voters with the Nov. 5 contest less than two months away. Long said her office received ballots on Tuesday and will begin mailing absentee ballots on Wednesday morning to voters who applied for them and to …

Election Day in the US is approaching fast. Early voters have already started casting their ballots
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Election Day in the US is approaching fast. Early voters have already started casting their ballots

Associated Press  

The voting window for the Nov. 5 presidential election is now open. Trump’s lawyers had argued that holding the sentencing as originally scheduled, about seven weeks before Election Day, would amount to election interference. On Sept. 26, a New York appeals court will hear oral arguments in Trump’s challenge of a nearly $500 million civil fraud judgment in state Attorney …

Registrar encourages Richmond voters to consider alternatives to mailing in absentee ballots
10 months, 1 week ago

Registrar encourages Richmond voters to consider alternatives to mailing in absentee ballots

Associated Press  

RICHMOND, Va. — The top elections official in Virginia’s capital is urging city residents to consider alternatives to mailing in absentee ballots for next week’s presidential primary amid reports of mail delivery problems. General Registrar Keith Balmer said at a recent meeting that he was offering practical solutions to ensure that eligible voters in Richmond can cast ballots without hindrance, …

Michigan election gave communities more time to handle absentee ballots
10 months, 1 week ago

Michigan election gave communities more time to handle absentee ballots

Associated Press  

DETROIT — Michigan’s presidential primary was the first time that communities in the state had the ability to count absentee ballots days before the Tuesday election. “That took a lot of the burden off Election Day tabulation of absentee ballots,” said Michael Siegrist, the clerk in Wayne County’s Canton Township. “Michigan had been held hostage by antiquated laws and procedures.” …

Election deniers oppose bill to process absentee ballots on Monday before elections
1 year ago

Election deniers oppose bill to process absentee ballots on Monday before elections

Raw Story  

At a hearing of the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection, lawmakers heard hours of testimony from election conspiracy theorists in opposition to a bill that would allow election officials to begin processing absentee ballots on the Monday before an election. Republicans in Wisconsin have complained that in the state’s 2018 gubernatorial election and in the …

NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week
2 years, 2 months ago

NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week

Associated Press  

A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. Here are the facts: ___ Graphic misrepresents House GOP agenda CLAIM: An image shows the House Republicans’ “Commitment to America” plan, including raising the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 75 and making retirees with pensions, 401s or disabled veterans’ benefits ineligible …

NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn't happen this week
2 years, 2 months ago

NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn't happen this week

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Here are the facts: ___ Graphic misrepresents House GOP agenda CLAIM: An image shows …

Absentee ballot numbers in Michigan show high voter turnout
2 years, 2 months ago

Absentee ballot numbers in Michigan show high voter turnout

Associated Press  

LANSING, Mich. — Over 150,000 Michigan voters have cast absentee ballots a month before the Nov. 8 election that will decide the state’s governor, secretary of state, attorney general and whether access to abortion will be a constitutional right. Rollow said he expects the state “would end up with about 2.25 million absentee ballots submitted if things were to play …

Michigan lawmakers approve early absentee ballot processing
2 years, 3 months ago

Michigan lawmakers approve early absentee ballot processing

Associated Press  

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan election officials would begin processing absentee ballots two days before the Nov. 8 election under legislation approved Wednesday in hopes of avoiding delays in counting, with absentee voting expected to remain a popular option. Michigan is one of several key swing states that allows no-excuse mail-in ballots but doesn’t allow local election offices to begin processing …

Ohio lawmakers extend overseas absentee ballots deadline
2 years, 9 months ago

Ohio lawmakers extend overseas absentee ballots deadline

Associated Press  

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Overseas absentee ballots could arrive up to 20 days after Ohio’s primary election and still be counted under emergency legislation approved by the General Assembly Thursday amid debate over new state legislative maps. Last week, the U.S. Defense Department denied a request by Ohio Elections Chief Frank LaRose to waive the March 19 deadline by which overseas …

Sponsor: Ohio voting law overhaul won’t be ready for 2022
2 years, 11 months ago

Sponsor: Ohio voting law overhaul won’t be ready for 2022

Associated Press  

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A significant rewrite of Ohio’s election laws that includes new restrictions on voting and some added conveniences long supported by voting rights advocates will not be ready for 2022 elections, its sponsor says. Republican state Rep. Bill Seitz, the bill’s sponsor, said concerns raised by Ohio Republican Party Chair Bob Paduchik about one of those conveniences — …

NC governor vetoes bill moving up absentee ballot deadline
3 years, 1 month ago

NC governor vetoes bill moving up absentee ballot deadline

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed on Thursday legislation that would bar officials from counting mail-in absentee ballots received after Election Day, even if their envelopes were postmarked on or before that date. “The legislature ironically named this bill ‘The Election Day Integrity Act’ when it actually does the opposite,” Cooper said in his veto message. …

Earlier NC absentee vote receipt deadline goes to Cooper
3 years, 1 month ago

Earlier NC absentee vote receipt deadline goes to Cooper

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Republicans pushed a bill through the legislature on Thursday that would prohibit officials from counting mail-in absentee ballots received after Election Day. Providing certainty to election outcomes sooner, Mills added, “will build voter confidence in our election process.” About 30 states already don’t accept absentee ballots received after Election Day. “Some folks may not make …

Report shows big spike in mail ballots during 2020 election
3 years, 4 months ago

Report shows big spike in mail ballots during 2020 election

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — Fewer than one-third of voters casting ballots in last year’s U.S. presidential election did so at a polling place on Election Day as the coronavirus pandemic led states to greatly expand mail-in balloting and early voting, according to a federal report released Monday. While voting by mail has been on the rise in recent years, the 2020 election …

A 2020 Surprise: Fewer Absentee Ballot Rejections Than Expected
4 years ago

A 2020 Surprise: Fewer Absentee Ballot Rejections Than Expected

NPR  

A 2020 Surprise: Fewer Absentee Ballot Rejections Than Expected Enlarge this image toggle caption Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images Florida resident Kirk Nielsen was very careful when he went to vote this fall. For example, Florida's mail-in ballot envelopes included space where voters could provide their email address or phone number, allowing election officials to …

EXPLAINER: A long night, or more, before president is known
4 years, 2 months ago

EXPLAINER: A long night, or more, before president is known

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Americans won’t know the winner of the 2020 U.S. presidential election until well into Wednesday — if not beyond that. In North Carolina, beginning five weeks before the election, county boards insert approved ballots into a voting machine, allowing for a prompt tabulation on Election Day. But other states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, all with Republican-led …

Minnesota SOS: Too late to mail ballots -- but not to vote
4 years, 2 months ago

Minnesota SOS: Too late to mail ballots -- but not to vote

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota’s secretary of state said Thursday it’s too late for voters to mail back their absentee ballots if they want to make sure their votes count, after an appeals court ruling indicated that mail-in ballots arriving after Election Day are at risk of being invalidated. Simon said voters who still have absentee ballots in hand may drop them …

US election 2020: How to vote by mail or absentee ballot and when deadlines are in your state
4 years, 2 months ago

US election 2020: How to vote by mail or absentee ballot and when deadlines are in your state

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It’s important to know that states are continually …

Vision 2020: Will mailed-in ballots be delivered on time?
4 years, 2 months ago

Vision 2020: Will mailed-in ballots be delivered on time?

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. If you plan on voting by mail, election officials say it's best to do …

50,000 Ohio Voters To Receive New Absentee Ballots After Error Found
4 years, 3 months ago

50,000 Ohio Voters To Receive New Absentee Ballots After Error Found

NPR  

50,000 Ohio Voters To Receive New Absentee Ballots After Error Found Enlarge this image toggle caption Jay LaPrete/AP Jay LaPrete/AP A version of this story was originally published by NPR member station WOSU. A large Ohio county determined that about 50,000 voters received an incorrect absentee ballot this week – accounting for almost 21% of the ballots mailed out this …

Whitmer approves earlier processing of absentee ballots
4 years, 3 months ago

Whitmer approves earlier processing of absentee ballots

Associated Press  

LANSING, Mich. — Clerks in Michigan cities or township of at least 25,000 people can start processing a surge of absentee ballots a day before November’s presidential election under legislation signed by Gov. Benson cautioned that because absentee ballots cannot begin to be counted until 7 a.m. on Election Day, the count may not be final until three days after …

Iowa Supreme Court puts ruling on absentee forms on hold
4 years, 3 months ago

Iowa Supreme Court puts ruling on absentee forms on hold

Associated Press  

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Iowa Supreme Court on Tuesday swiftly granted a request from Republican groups to stay a judge’s ruling that blocked enforcement of an order that has been used to invalidate tens of thousands of absentee ballot requests. At issue is Monday’s ruling by Judge Robert Hanson that would block Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate from …

Error leaves thousands in NYC with flawed absentee ballots
4 years, 3 months ago

Error leaves thousands in NYC with flawed absentee ballots

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Mail-in voting has gotten off to a rocky start in New York City, where election officials sent out nearly 100,000 absentee ballots with the wrong names and addresses printed on the return envelopes. The faulty ballots are limited to one print run of ballots sent out to Brooklyn voters, the board’s director Michael Ryan said at a …

Appellate court halts Wisconsin ballot-counting extension
4 years, 3 months ago

Appellate court halts Wisconsin ballot-counting extension

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — A federal appeals court on Sunday temporarily halted a six-day extension for counting absentee ballots in Wisconsin’s presidential election, a momentary victory for Republicans and President Donald Trump in the key presidential battleground state. The Democratic National Committee, the state Democratic Party and allied groups including the League of Women Voters sued to extend the deadline for …

Voters' poorly marked ovals could lead to contested ballots
4 years, 3 months ago

Voters' poorly marked ovals could lead to contested ballots

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. While ballots subject to review have historically represented a tiny portion of overall ballots, …

Voters’ poorly marked ovals could lead to contested ballots
4 years, 3 months ago

Voters’ poorly marked ovals could lead to contested ballots

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — Two decades ago, Florida’s hanging chads became an unlikely symbol of a disputed presidential election. “Potential challenges, delays in results, questions on which ballots count and who counts them — there are just a lot of questions, and that could open up Pennsylvania to a lot of uncertainty.” The group is working with election officials statewide, emphasizing clear …

2 Republicans challenge Minnesota plan for late mail ballots
4 years, 3 months ago

2 Republicans challenge Minnesota plan for late mail ballots

Associated Press  

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A Republican state representative and a GOP activist are challenging an agreement to accept mail-in ballots in Minnesota that arrive up to a week after the November election, adding to the nationwide legal fight over voting rules before the presidential election. The lawsuit states the agreement by Secretary of State Steve Simon, a Democrat, violates federal …

Minnesota begins early voting as candidates visit the state
4 years, 3 months ago

Minnesota begins early voting as candidates visit the state

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — The battleground state of Minnesota began voting in the presidential election on Friday as polling stations opened in every county and local officials began mailing out huge piles of absentee ballots to make voting safer amid the pandemic. “Probably many times over the last four years I had thought, ‘I’m going to be the first dude in Minnesota …

Appeals court: Mass mailing of absent ballot applications OK
4 years, 3 months ago

Appeals court: Mass mailing of absent ballot applications OK

Associated Press  

LANSING, Mich. — Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s mass mailing of unsolicited absentee ballot applications to millions of 2020 voters was deemed legal by Michigan’s appeals court, which ruled Wednesday she had “inherent” authority to act under a 2018 constitutional amendment expanding voting rights. Benson, a Democrat, began sending the applications in May to all voters in the battleground state …

US election: Mail voting in battleground states in spotlight
4 years, 3 months ago

US election: Mail voting in battleground states in spotlight

Al Jazeera  

Policies in states expected to have razor-thin margins could affect number of rejected ballots and tallying time. While President Donald Trump has largely sought to keep attention on unfounded claims that voting by mail leads to higher rates of fraud, voting advocates have instead highlighted an array of changes to how states process votes by mail that they say could …

Map: Mail-In Voting Rules By State — And The Deadlines You Need
4 years, 3 months ago

Map: Mail-In Voting Rules By State — And The Deadlines You Need

NPR  

Map: Mail-In Voting Rules By State — And The Deadlines You Need Loading. Many states, including New Hampshire and New York, have suspended the need for an excuse to obtain an absentee ballot, or said fear of contracting COVID-19 while voting is a valid excuse. The graphic above gives a broad overview of mail-in voting procedures for each state and …

Wisconsin court sets up possible delay in absentee mailing
4 years, 3 months ago

Wisconsin court sets up possible delay in absentee mailing

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The conservative-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a halt in the mailing of absentee ballots until it gives the go-ahead or makes any future ruling about who should be on the ballot in the critical battleground state. The ruling came in a lawsuit by Green Party presidential candidate Howie Hawkins, who asked the state’s highest court …

Virginia lawmakers approve absentee voting measures
4 years, 4 months ago

Virginia lawmakers approve absentee voting measures

Associated Press  

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia lawmakers gave final approval Friday to legislation aimed at making absentee voting easier in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, including having the state prepay postage and provide drop boxes for absentee ballots. The House of Delegates approved a Senate bill that will allocate $2 million for prepaid postage and also set up a process for …

A simple way you, alone, can increase US voter turnout (opinion)
4 years, 4 months ago

A simple way you, alone, can increase US voter turnout (opinion)

CNN  

Editor’s Note: David G. Allan is the Editorial Director for CNN Travel, Style, Science and Wellness. But there is a simple way that we can support a successfully engaged Election Day and help one another pull off the basic but vital duty of citizenship. On my own Google Sheets grid, I have a column for the friend’s name, another for …

NY lets voters get absentee ballots due to virus concerns
4 years, 4 months ago

NY lets voters get absentee ballots due to virus concerns

Associated Press  

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York will allow voters to request absentee ballots for the general election because of an outbreak — like coronavirus — under a new state law signed Thursday. New York typically only allows voters to request absentee ballots if they fall into one of several categories, including absence from one’s county on Election Day. Election officers worked …

2020 election: Millions of mail-out votes in 46 states may not arrive in time for presidential election, Postal Service warns
4 years, 4 months ago

2020 election: Millions of mail-out votes in 46 states may not arrive in time for presidential election, Postal Service warns

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The US Postal Service …

Trump's absentee ballot is waiting at Mar-a-Lago amid his war on mail-in voting
4 years, 4 months ago

Trump's absentee ballot is waiting at Mar-a-Lago amid his war on mail-in voting

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors …

Donald Trump Can Do More Than Attack Post Office Funding. He’s Mounting A Legal War Against Mailed Ballots.
4 years, 4 months ago

Donald Trump Can Do More Than Attack Post Office Funding. He’s Mounting A Legal War Against Mailed Ballots.

Huff Post  

President Donald Trump stunned even hardened observers when he admitted on national television Thursday morning that he would not agree to additional U.S. These include directing the Postal Service not to deliver mailed ballots and ordering state officials to stop counting absentee ballots on Election Day, even though the president doesn’t have legal authority to do either of these things. …

Record 76% of Americans able to vote by mail in 2020 despite Trump’s complaints
4 years, 4 months ago

Record 76% of Americans able to vote by mail in 2020 despite Trump’s complaints

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. If recent election trends hold and turnout increases, …

States Have 83 Days To Figure Out How To Get Absentee Voting Right
4 years, 4 months ago

States Have 83 Days To Figure Out How To Get Absentee Voting Right

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Counting Tuesday’s primary elections, 47 states have held votes during the coronavirus pandemic, dealing with massive surges in voting by mail that have served as a dry run for the general election. Voters in Minnesota had returned 432,000 absentee ballots out of a total of 637,000 requested ahead of Tuesday’s statewide primary elections. Minnesota election officials warned …

Vote-By-Mail Worries Mount As Election Nears
4 years, 5 months ago

Vote-By-Mail Worries Mount As Election Nears

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING BOSTON — Brace yourself for what’s expected to be the first U.S. presidential election conducted mostly by mail. “It hasn’t been built to withstand that high of a volume.” Among the major concerns: — Although Congress has sent $400 million to help states deal with pandemic-related pressures on election systems, it’s well short of the estimated $2 …

Vote-by-mail worries: A ‘leaky pipeline’ in many states
4 years, 5 months ago

Vote-by-mail worries: A ‘leaky pipeline’ in many states

Associated Press  

BOSTON — Brace yourself for what’s expected to be the first U.S. presidential election conducted mostly by mail. That’s because processing absentee ballots is a complex, multi-step process in most states: Voter fills out application, mails it to local election office; local election office verifies voter’s eligibility, sends back ballot; voter completes ballot, signs envelope, returns it. In Georgia’s Fulton …

Mail-in ballots and absentee ballots are essentially the same, both verifiable
4 years, 5 months ago

Mail-in ballots and absentee ballots are essentially the same, both verifiable

Associated Press  

CLAIM: Mail-in ballots are not the same thing as absentee ballots. THE FACTS: In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, some politicians have tried to paint a picture of two diverging systems: absentee voting, or requesting a ballot when you can’t vote in person, and mail-in voting, in which states send a ballot to every registered voter. A post viewed …

Judge rejects most N.C. election changes sought in lawsuit
4 years, 5 months ago

Judge rejects most N.C. election changes sought in lawsuit

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — A federal judge on Tuesday refused to order a wide array of changes to North Carolina’s election rules sought by voting advocacy groups worried about how COVID-19 could limit ballot access. But he told election officials they can’t reject mail-in absentee ballots unless there’s a way that voters can fix errors. Democracy North Carolina and the League …

Fact check: Another Trump briefing, more Trump falsehoods on coronavirus and mail-in voting
4 years, 5 months ago

Fact check: Another Trump briefing, more Trump falsehoods on coronavirus and mail-in voting

CNN  

Washington CNN — President Donald Trump’s Monday afternoon appearance in the White House briefing room was replete with the now-familiar Trump fare: dishonestly upbeat assessments of the pandemic situation, a series of inaccurate claims related to mail-in ballots and exaggerations about his own accomplishments. He said a bit later that “there’s fraudulent ballots,” this time omitting the “I guess.” Facts …

Fact-checking Trump’s continued assault on mail-in voting and suggestions of delaying the election
4 years, 5 months ago

Fact-checking Trump’s continued assault on mail-in voting and suggestions of delaying the election

CNN  

Washington CNN — President Donald Trump went on a tear against mail-in voting Thursday morning. “The Dems talk of foreign influence in voting, but they know that Mail-In Voting is an easy way for foreign countries to enter the race.” More and more states are considering mail-in ballots as the coronavirus pandemic shows little sign of slowing down in the …

Oakland County will pay for postage on absentee ballots
4 years, 5 months ago

Oakland County will pay for postage on absentee ballots

Associated Press  

LANSING, Mich. — Oakland County, Michigan’s second-largest county and a political bellwether, announced Monday that it will use up to $575,000 in federal coronavirus relief aid to provide prepaid postage on absentee ballots in the November presidential election. The council — which includes the county’s elections director, several city clerks and voting-rights advocates — has also urged all residents to …

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