Postal Service Issues Causing Local Election Concerns

Yesterday was the official kickoff of what promises to be a very busy election year, as advance in-person voting got underway in Stephens County and across Georgia for the Presidential Preference Primary. 

Stephens County Election Supervisor Bruce Carlilse told WNEG News yesterday afternoon that voting had gone smoothly and that first-day turnout was good, with approximately 140 voters casting their ballots at the Historic Courthouse by late afternoon.

Advanced voting for the March 12 Presidential Preference Primary will be conducted at the Stephens County Historic Courthouse, 37 W. Tugalo Street in Toccoa. Advanced voting will continue each weekday through Friday, March 8. 

Mandatory advanced in-person Saturday voting will take place on February 24 and March 2. Hours for advanced in person voting will be from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Election day voting hours on March 12 will be from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Historic Courthouse. 

There will be no voting at the senior center or any location other than the Historic Courthouse in Toccoa. 

The official, and only, drop-off box for absentee ballots for the Presidential Preference Primary is located inside the Historic Courthouse. 

Carlisle said that his office, along with county officials, monitored the turnout and voting procedure at the Historic Courthouse as voting got underway yesterday morning, and made logistical adjustments to parking as needed, working with city staff and officials. 

Carlisle expressed concerns over reports from citizens about delivery of requested absentee ballots, and inconsistencies and errors in delivery through the U.S. Postal Service.

WNEG News was shown both absentee ballot envelopes, and precinct cards, that had been returned to the Elections Office with yellow “undeliverable” labels that had been affixed by the post office, but upon researching the original address on the envelope and precinct card, found that the addresses were, in fact, accurate, valid and current for the registered voters to whom the mail had originally been addressed to. Carlisle said that circumstance has happened numerous times, along with other problematic and erroneous mail delivery complications. 

WNEG Radio was unable to reach anyone at the Toccoa Post Office for comment yesterday, as it was a Federal Holiday. We will follow up with the local post office, and we have contacted the Office of the Inspector General to follow up on this story, and will report any updates as they become available.