Stephens County Voters Complain of Delayed Absentee Ballots, Precinct Cards
By Jessica Waters, WNEG Toccoa
More election issues in Stephens County.
This time voters who requested absentee ballots are complaining they have not received them and Elections Supervisor Bruce Carlisle said some of those ballots had been returned to his office by the Toccoa Post Office as undeliverable even though the name and address of the voter who requested the absentee ballot was correct.
When contacted by sister station WNEG Radio, USPS Corporate Communications Specialist Evelina Ramirez with Media Relations said they were unaware of any problems or issues with absentee ballots in Stephens County and would not comment on the matter further.
Meantime, Carlisle said last week he spoke with Toccoa Post Master Kevin Moore regarding concerns over undelivered Elections Office precinct Cards and Absentee Ballot Request Forms.
Carlisle said the issues with the delivery of Precinct Cards have been set aside for now, but assured citizens that Precinct Cards are not necessary to vote, but if a resident would like a card and has not received one, they should contact the elections office, and one can be printed locally for them to pick up.
He added that he and Postmaster Moore have come up with a plan to ensure timely delivery of all election absentee ballot-related mail.
Carlisle stressed that there is no conspiracy to defraud or disenfranchise voters, as has been suggested on some social media platforms and he urged Stephens County voters to take a level of responsibility for following through on their ballots.
Voters that mail in an absentee ballot should check on their My Voter Page to make sure it gets credited to them, so they can be sure it was received.
To check on voter registration status, check voter registration information such as an address, print your own copy of your precinct card, or check to see if an absentee ballot you have filled out and mailed to the elections office has been recorded as received, visit mvp.sos.ga.gov.