Wednesday, October 9, 2002
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Wednesday, October 9, 2002 |
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Absentee ballots delayed
Fayette County absentee ballots, along with many across the state, have been delayed. Although all other statewide election votes will be cast using the new electronic voting units, absentee ballots will be paper as in the past. Per the Secretary of State Press Office representative, Cara Hodgson, redistricting, the pushed-back election dates and two legislative recounts have resulted in the delays. Georgia Election Code states that absentee ballots must be available 45 days prior to the election. Counties should have had the completed ballots on September 21st to be in compliance. However, many, like Fayette County, did not receive ballot proofs until this week. Once received the County has 24-hours to review and send to the printer if correct. Concerns have been raised across the state by many regarding the ability of military personnel in foreign countries to request and return ballots to elections officials in time to be counted. Military personnel are the heaviest uses of absentee ballots. However, in Fayette County a large number of airline employees may be affected by the ballot delays. Per Hodgson, absentee ballots are color-coded and are expedited by the mail service. However, with the Florida fiasco on the minds of many, and the fact that the military tend to vote Republican, emails are flying and accusations are being directed by Republicans and others to the Secretary of State and the Barnes administration. Locally elections officials are encouraging those in need of absentee ballots to send in a request for the ballots so they can get them out as soon as they are printed. Even with the delays, Carolyn Combs, Fayette County Board of Elections, and Hudgson say they are not expecting a problem in turning the ballots around in a timely manner. To request an absentee ballot, stop by the Fayette County Board of Elections in Suite 308 at the Fayette Administrative Complex or visit the county's web site at http://www.admin.co.fayette.ga.us/election/online_voting_forms.htm.
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