RELEASE: Elections Department encourages those with absentee ballots to get them in now

Note: The following item was provided by the Polk County Elections Department on behalf of the Board of Elections. -KtE

The Polk County Board of Elections and Registration has identified significant concerns with the return rate of absentee ballots placed in the United States Postal Service. 203 absentee ballots have been issued and mailed for the May 21^st General Primary/Nonpartisan Election and less than 100 have been returned to the Elections Office.

These absentee ballots were promptly prepared and mailed by the Polk County Elections Department from April 22^st to April 24^th. Applications for absentee ballots submitted following the initial absentee deployment period were issued within 48 hours of receiving a valid application. To confirm that an application was received, processed, and that a ballot was issued and mailed: please visit mvp.sos.ga.gov, put in your personal information, and check the Absentee Ballot Portal four sections down.

If you have received your absentee ballot, voted, properly sealed it, and have not placed it in the mail, please consider delivering it in person to the Polk County Board of Elections and Registration office located at 144 West Avenue Suite D, Cedartown Ga.

If you have requested an absentee ballot and it has not been received, please email dpearl@polkga.org with your name and address. You may also contact the Elections Office at (770) 749-2103.

Early Voting continues through Friday, May 17^th, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at two locations: Goodyear Civic Center and Rockmart Community Center. If you have requested an absentee ballot, you may still vote in person early or on election day at your designated polling location.

We encourage absentee voters to thoroughly review the included information and to be patient with our office and local postal workers. The structural changes that fostered these delays and uncertainty were not created at the local level. The Polk County Elections Department appreciates your understanding and look forward to assisting you in casting your ballot in any way we can.