GEORGIA, USA — With the May primary only four days away, Georgia voters continue to reach out, saying they requested an absentee ballot but have yet to receive it in the mail.
The questions come as 11Alive continues investigating mail delays that have persisted in the state since March, following the opening of the new regional processing and distribution center in Palmetto.
Several county election officials, including Cobb County Elections Director Tate Fall, confirmed that voters are continuing to contact them about their absentee ballots, which are believed to be delayed due to problems with the mail service.
"It seems to be slightly better than the March Presidential Preference Primary, but there are still significant delays," Fall shared in a statement. "We continue to follow all guidance from USPS, from ballot envelope design to bulk mail drop off requirements, to ensure that we are doing everything in our power to assist with our end of the process."
In a statement, Cherokee County officials said they too have voters who have not received ballots as of Thursday, even though they were mailed out as far back as April 22. The county said it is even still receiving ballots for the Presidential Primary -- held back in March -- this month, even though they were postmarked in February. Officials told 11Alive in an email that they have expressed their concerns with the USPS and filed a formal complaint with Sen. Ossoff's office, where there is now an open case. The county has been encouraging voters to hand-deliver their ballots.
In Gwinnett, county officials shared that they've met twice with the local postmaster. The elections team has also provided USPS with copies of absentee ballot envelopes to ensure ballots are recognized.
"The division has been assured that any mail bearing the official election mail stamp will be expedited," a county spokesperson said.
In Walton County, election officials are warning voters of the delay and working to find ways to prevent ballots from going to the Palmetto facility in the first place.
“Currently, we sort the ballots by zip code and deliver them in a tray with a special Absentee Ballots Only label,” a statement to 11Alive said. “We also spoke with our local postmaster and they keep the ballots and process them in house rather than sending them to Palmetto. However, they are only able to do that with the voters who live in Monroe. We plan to speak to the other city postmasters within our county to see if they are willing to do the same for the first absentee mailout day for the November election, considering there are so many on that first day. We are currently discussing safety measures in office to ensure the ballots would be delivered securely to the post offices.”
Many election offices, including Floyd County, also turned to social media. On Wednesday, Floyd County officials posted an alert to Facebook, citing “significant issues with absentee ballots placed in the mail service and the return rate of those absentee ballots.”
“Over 400 ballots have been mailed for the May 21. 2024 General Primary/Nonpartisan Election, and less than 200 have been returned to the Elections Office for counting,” the post reads.
Meanwhile, state data as of Friday morning shows 62,721 absentee ballots issued across Georgia for the May 21 primary. Of those, 33,368 ballots have been returned and accepted.
So what if you requested an absentee ballot and never got it in the mail?
If you get your absentee ballot in time, you can still fill it out and drop it in one of the official drop boxes in your county or return it in person to the county elections office. At this point, do not drop your ballot in the US Mail because it will likely not be received before the deadline.
But if you don't get it and show up to the polls, you must fill out an affidavit to cancel the absentee ballot to vote in person. Voters with questions can also contact their local elections office for clarification.
As of Friday, the postal office has not answered any questions about its ability to expedite ballots, but the agency continues to reiterate that it's committed to the 'timely and secure delivery of Election Mail.'
Ultimately, whether you vote in person or by absentee ballot, your vote must be cast by the close of polls on Tuesday.
What the post office is doing about the issues
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's Office said it received a letter from USPS addressing the issue, adding that it would be "intensifying resources in the region to oversee our mail flow- leading up to and through the May 21 Georgia primary- and through to stabilization of service performance."
The letter claimed the resources would help resolve some of the roadblocks and issues that could slow down mail processing.
"The Postal Service is committed to providing a secure, efficient, and effective way for citizens to participate when policymakers decide to use mail as part of their elections," the letter reads.
It said more than 100 leaders in different areas -- such as Postal Leadership, Management, Engineers, Logistics, Election & Government Mail Services, Quality Assurance, and Postal Inspection Service personnel -- have been dispatched to Georgia to intensify efforts.