Fulton County addresses absentee ballot concerns ahead of November election

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Unites States Postal Service is concerned about getting voter ballots to local counties for the upcoming general election.

Georgia is one of 40 states potentially affected.

Channel 2′s Kristen Holloway checked with Fulton County election officials to see how this issue is being addressed.

Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts said the county is concerned that people voting by absentee ballot might not get their vote to the county in time before polls close on elections day.

“It’s just simply not realistic to think that if you put your absentee ballot in the mail on the Friday before the Tuesday election that it’s going to get there in time,” Pitts said.

USPS recently announced concerns about their ability to efficiently handle the volume of absentee ballots for the upcoming general election in November.

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Because of these concerns, Pitts said the Fulton County Board of Commissioners wants to expand the current 20 voter drop boxes for absentee ballots.

“I’d like to see 50 plus for November because we’re expecting and unprecedented turnout for the November election,” Pitts said.

Pitts believes the best way to expand is through partnerships with CVS, Walgreens, Publix and Kroger.

Pitts said partnering with these locations would work because they are in Fulton County neighborhoods, have adequate security and allow voters to cast their ballots while running errands.

Ballots must be received by election officials before the polls close on Election Day.

The drop boxes will be owned by Fulton County and all the absentee ballots inside will be picked up at the end of the night on election day.

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