Brad is still flailing at the same basic observation.
Yes, the rule does not require the exterior of the envelope to contain the word “ballot” or any explicit notice to the recipient that a ballot is inside. The required exterior elements are the Official Election Mail logo, automation-compatible design, and the unique Intelligent Mail barcode that matches the Portal data. Those are what USPS checks. Nothing in the rule mandates language that tells the voter “this envelope contains your ballot.”
Most states already design their ballot envelopes to make that clear to the voter (return instructions, official markings, etc.), but the federal rule itself does not compel any particular notice language directed at the recipient. A state that wanted to use a completely generic-looking but still rule-compliant exterior could theoretically do so.
That does not break the rule’s verification mechanism. The rule is an acceptance-and-tracking standard based on exterior registration and barcode matching, not a consumer-notice or content-labeling requirement aimed at the voter. Brad is describing a design choice that remains available to states under the rule, not a loophole that renders the exterior check meaningless.