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Elections leaders calling for US Postal Service to fix mail-in ballot issues

Elections leaders calling for US Postal Service to fix mail-in ballot issues
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      COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. ELECTIONS OFFICIALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE HOPING PROBLEMS WITH THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE WILL NOT DISENFRANCHIZE VOTERS IN THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. HERE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS SAYS THERE WERE SOME PROBLEMS IN THE AUGUST PRIMARY. SO OUR STEVE KING JOINS US IN STUDIO NOW WITH WHAT LOCAL ELECTION LEADERS ARE DOING TO PREVENT FUTURE PROBLEMS. STEVE TAYLOR, PALM BEACH COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS WENDY SARTORY LINK, SAYS IN THE AUGUST PRIMARY ELECTION, SOME VOTERS DID NOT GET THEIR MAIL IN BALLOTS SENT TO THEM. THE ELECTIONS OFFICE AT TIMES RECEIVED OTHER PEOPLE’S MAIL AND SOME VOTER INFORMATION CARDS AND SAMPLE BALLOTS WERE RETURNED TO THE ELECTIONS OFFICE WITHOUT AN ATTEMPT TO DELIVER THEM. TWO GROUPS REPRESENTING TOP ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS IN ALL 50 STATES SENT A LETTER TO THE U.S. POSTMASTER GENERAL URGING THE POST OFFICE TO FIX THESE DELIVERY ISSUES. THAT LETTER WAS SENT LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE POSTMASTER GENERAL SAID THE USPS IS, QUOTE, FULLY FOCUSED ON DELIVERING THE NATION’S ELECTION MAIL IN THE GENERAL ELECTION IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, SUPERVISOR LYNCH SAYS SHE’S IN CONTACT WITH THE POST OFFICE ABOUT GETTING THESE ISSUES ADDRESSED AS WELL, AND IS HOPING THE ISSUES WILL BE RESOLVED AHEAD OF THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION. I’M HOPEFUL I REALLY HAVE NO WAY OF OF KNOWING, YOU KNOW, EXACTLY WHAT THEY’VE DONE AT THIS POINT. YEAH, I THINK THAT AGAIN, GIVEN THE NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE SEND OUT AND WE’RE TALKING ABOUT PROBABLY A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND BALLOTS THAT ARE BEING MAILED. SO IN THE LARGE SCHEME OF THINGS, IT’S A VERY SMALL NUMBER, BUT OBVIOUSLY ANYTHING ABOVE ZERO IS TOO MUCH FOR US. WENDY SARTORY LINK SAYS THERE ARE A FEW THINGS VOTERS CAN DO TO HELP REDUCE THE CHANCE OF ANY ISSUES. ONE IS REMEMBER THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE BY MAIL IS OCTOBER 24TH. IF YOU PLAN TO MAIL YOUR BALLOT, YOU SHOULD DO THAT AT LEAST TEN DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION. SINCE IT HAS TO ARRIVE TO THE ELECTIONS OFFICE BY ELECTION DAY. YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP FOR BALLOT TRACKS ONLINE AND MAKE SURE YOUR SIGNATURE IS ON YOUR BALLOT. ALSO REMEMBER, BALLOTS CAN ONLY BE MAILED TO YOUR PERMANENT ADDRESS AND NOT A FORWARDING ADDRESS. I REACHED OUT TO THE U.S
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      Elections leaders calling for US Postal Service to fix mail-in ballot issues
      Elections officials across the United States are hoping problems with the U.S. Postal Service will not disenfranchise voters in the upcoming presidential election.In Palm Beach County, Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link says there were some problems in the August primary that she hopes won’t be an issue in the upcoming general election.Link said that in the August Primary election, some voters did not get their mail-in ballots sent to them, and that the elections office at times received other people’s mail and some voter information cards and sample ballots were returned to the elections office without an attempt to deliver them.This comes as officials with the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors told the head of the U.S. Postal Service in a letter that it hasn't fixed these persistent problems. The problems include mailed ballots that were postmarked on time but were received by election offices days after the deadline to be counted.They also noted election mail was returned as undeliverable, which could create problems when those voters show up to cast a ballot. That letter was sent less than two weeks after the postmaster general said the USPS is "fully focused" on delivering the nation’s election mail in the general election.In Palm Beach County, Link says she is in contact with local U.S. Post Office officials about getting these issues addressed as well and is hoping the issues will all be resolved ahead of the upcoming general election."I'm hopeful," Link said. I really have no way of knowing, you know, exactly what they've done at this point. Yeah. I think that, again, given the number of things that we send out, and we were talking about probably a couple hundred thousand ballots that are being mailed, so in the large scheme of things, it's a very small number, but obviously, anything above zero is too much for us."Link says there are a few things voters can do to help reduce the chance of any issues.One is remember the deadline to register to vote by mail is Oct. 24. If you plan to mail in your ballot, you should do that at least 10 days before the election, since it has to arrive at the elections office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.You can also sign up for BallotTrax online and make sure your signature is on your ballot.Also, remember ballots can only be mailed to your permanent address and not a forwarding address.The U.S. Postal Service sent the following statement to WPBF 25 News in response:"The U.S. Postal Service is committed to the secure, timely delivery of the nation’s Election Mail. In 2024, just as we have in previous elections, the Postal Service will fulfill our role in the electoral process when public policy makers choose to utilize the mail as a part of their election system or when voters choose to utilize our services to participate in an election. We employ a robust and proven process to ensure proper handling and delivery of all Election Mail, including ballots. Election Mail in Palm Beach County is current. Postal management is aware that earlier in the year, mail not intended for the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections was inadvertently included with their mail pickup, and we have taken steps to resolve that issue."We have been in close communication with the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections throughout the year and are unaware of any recent concerns related to Election Mail, including ballots. We continue to work closely with them and look forward to successfully fulfilling our role in the November election."Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25 Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.

      Elections officials across the United States are hoping problems with the U.S. Postal Service will not disenfranchise voters in the upcoming presidential election.

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      In Palm Beach County, Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link says there were some problems in the August primary that she hopes won’t be an issue in the upcoming general election.

      Link said that in the August Primary election, some voters did not get their mail-in ballots sent to them, and that the elections office at times received other people’s mail and some voter information cards and sample ballots were returned to the elections office without an attempt to deliver them.

      This comes as officials with the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors told the head of the U.S. Postal Service in a letter that it hasn't fixed these persistent problems.

      The problems include mailed ballots that were postmarked on time but were received by election offices days after the deadline to be counted.

      They also noted election mail was returned as undeliverable, which could create problems when those voters show up to cast a ballot.

      That letter was sent less than two weeks after the postmaster general said the USPS is "fully focused" on delivering the nation’s election mail in the general election.

      In Palm Beach County, Link says she is in contact with local U.S. Post Office officials about getting these issues addressed as well and is hoping the issues will all be resolved ahead of the upcoming general election.

      "I'm hopeful," Link said. I really have no way of knowing, you know, exactly what they've done at this point. Yeah. I think that, again, given the number of things that we send out, and we were talking about probably a couple hundred thousand ballots that are being mailed, so in the large scheme of things, it's a very small number, but obviously, anything above zero is too much for us."

      Link says there are a few things voters can do to help reduce the chance of any issues.

      One is remember the deadline to register to vote by mail is Oct. 24. If you plan to mail in your ballot, you should do that at least 10 days before the election, since it has to arrive at the elections office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

      You can also sign up for BallotTrax online and make sure your signature is on your ballot.

      Also, remember ballots can only be mailed to your permanent address and not a forwarding address.

      The U.S. Postal Service sent the following statement to WPBF 25 News in response:

      "The U.S. Postal Service is committed to the secure, timely delivery of the nation’s Election Mail. In 2024, just as we have in previous elections, the Postal Service will fulfill our role in the electoral process when public policy makers choose to utilize the mail as a part of their election system or when voters choose to utilize our services to participate in an election. We employ a robust and proven process to ensure proper handling and delivery of all Election Mail, including ballots. Election Mail in Palm Beach County is current. Postal management is aware that earlier in the year, mail not intended for the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections was inadvertently included with their mail pickup, and we have taken steps to resolve that issue.

      "We have been in close communication with the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections throughout the year and are unaware of any recent concerns related to Election Mail, including ballots. We continue to work closely with them and look forward to successfully fulfilling our role in the November election."

      Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25

      Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.