Fayette elections officials notifying 300 voters who did not receive mail-in ballots
Fayette County elections officials are notifying about 300 people who never received mail-in ballots ahead of Tuesday’s election due to an unknown issue that is now under review by the county and state Department of State.
The ballots apparently were not mailed due to an unknown issue in October, causing problems with the automatically generated ballot label files that allow them to be sent.
“Fayette County officials brought it to the Department’s attention shortly after learning of the issue, and we took immediate action to assist the county in addressing it,” said Geoff Morrow, who is press secretary for the state Department of State.
Voters who still have not received their mail-in ballots as of today are asked to visit the elections bureau office at 2 W. Main St. in Uniontown for a replacement ballot on Monday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesday for Election Day. Voters with disabilities or other limitations who cannot visit the office in person should call the election bureau at 724-430-1289 to discuss alternative arrangements for receiving a ballot or voting.
“We want every eligible voter to vote next Tuesday,” Fayette County Elections Director Marybeth Kuznik said in a written statement. “The Election Bureau is doing everything we can to get the message out that we will replace the ballot of any voter who requested one and did not receive it.”
Voters who still have not received their ballots can visit the elections bureau Monday or Tuesday to request a ballot over the counter and fill it out at the office before immediately returning it to the staff. People can also vote in person using a provisional ballot at their polling place on Election Day. If someone is unable to travel to the office or their polling place because of a disability or other limitation, elections officials are asking them to contact the office immediately to make alternative arrangements for receiving a ballot.
It’s not clear how the problem occurred with the mail-in ballots not being sent out to certain people or how the affected voters were pinpointed by the elections office.
“We are working closely with Fayette County officials on this isolated issue to ensure that impacted voters are able to make their voices heard by casting mail ballots at the county elections office – or by voting at the polls on Election Day,” Morrow said in a written statement. “Our goal, as always, is to ensure that every eligible voter is able to make their voice heard and that every eligible ballot is counted.”
According to state election records, 9,483 mail-in ballots were requested and 7,811 have been returned as of Friday morning. Of those requests, 6,411 were for Democrats and 84% of them have been returned; 2,495 were for Republicans and 81% have been returned; and 577 were sent to non-affiliated party or independent voters and 67% have been returned.
All mail-in ballots must be returned to the county elections office no later than 8 p.m. Tuesday or they will not be counted. Anyone who has their mail-in ballot but still has not dropped it in the mail is advised to personally return it to the elections office Monday or Tuesday to ensure that it arrives.