This discovery comes after some Cobb County residents reported they had not received the absentee ballots they requested. Director of Elections and Registration Janine Eveler blames this situation on human error. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News App for alerts as news breaks] “I’m sorry this office let these voters down,” Eveler said in a message to the Board of Elections and Registration. “Many of the absent staff are averaging 80 or more hours a week and are exhausted. However, this is no excuse for such a critical error.” The investigation found that 1,046 absentee ballots requested were never mailed. The manufacture, Channel 2 investigative reporter Justin Gray spoke with a resident of Cobb County, Washington, who requested an absentee ballot but never received one. Alyse Martin, 20, attends Howard University in Washington, DC She requested her absentee ballot in September. Cobb County said it was issued Oct. 11. “I still don’t have it, and it’s Friday, and Election Day is Tuesday,” Martin said. Cobb County officials acknowledged in a message on their YouTube channel Thursday that they receive similar calls about lost absentee ballots. “Once it goes in the mail, we really don’t know what the problem might be,” Cobb County election officials said. Election staff said they dropped off absentee ballots at 83 out-of-state addresses and included prepaid return envelopes overnight. They had already overnighted ballots to 194 residents in that group who had requested ballots. Records show another 271 residents in that group had canceled their ballot request and voted during Primary voting. The county is urging the remaining 498 residents to vote in person on Election Day. Cobb Elections officials said they will contact affected voters by email or phone to inform them of the situation and direct them to their polling place on Election Day. “I’m very disappointed that we put these voters in a position where they may not have the opportunity to vote in this general election,” said Board of Elections President Tori Silas. “While human error was clearly a factor, I believe the reduced time frames for receiving requests and processing absentee ballots provided in SB202, as well as turnover at the elections office, are also significant factors.” Salis said with only three days until Election Day, they are taking every step possible to ensure voters have a chance to cast their ballots. “After this election, I will join other members of the Board of Elections to oversee a review of the absentee voting process and work with Ms. Eveler and her staff to improve the county’s absentee voting process to reduce the likelihood of this kind of mistake in the future,” Salis said. IN OTHER NEWS: Record Number of Women Candidates Running for State and Federal Office in 2022 Midterm Elections ©2022 Cox Media Group
