Georgia absentee voters face duel problems of mail delays, disappearing drop boxes

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Over 200,000 Georgians have requested an absentee ballot and already, 60,000 of them have been returned. However, the method of voting that surged to prominence during the pandemic has become less accessible and riskier for voters in this ongoing election cycle.

Legislation passed in 2021 is finally manifesting itself for many absentee voters. Senate Bill 202, which passed in the wake of the 2020 election, in part vastly reduced the number of drop boxes across the state, allowing only one box for every 100,000 voters in a county. The drop boxes were also moved to the inside of voting precincts, where they exist.

"It needs to be more accessible," said Georgia voter Rebecca Flynn, who lost her local ballot drop box this year. "To have it completely gone was very frustrating."

Flynn had to drive 30 minutes one way to the next closest box. Poll workers there told her that she should always mail the ballot in, but left her with a warning.

"I asked if they'd recommend that and they said, it's up to you but I wouldn't do it," said Flynn.

For months, lawmakers and postal officials have been warning that the issues plaguing the United States Postal Service could impact the timely return of absentee ballots, and that appears to be coming to fruition less than 20 days out from the election itself.

"With something so important as my vote, I don't want anything to happen to it so I didn't want to take any chances," said Flynn.

Absentee ballots have to be returned to county elections offices via a drop box or by mail by 7 p.m. when the polls close on Nov. 5.

In DeKalb County, a program was recently approved that could help combat the dueling problems. It allows absentee voters the ability to hand-deliver their absentee ballot to poll workers at any early voting precinct, regardless of whether or not there's a drop box there.

"That means the next person that's going to touch your ballot is not the United States Postal Service. It's somebody with our elections office, so you can be confident your votes going to count," said Vasu Abhiraman, vice chair of the DeKalb County Board of Elections. "If you drop it into the mail now there's a middleman introduced into the process."

Cobb and Gwinnett counties have similar programs.