In a notable move to ensure the franchise remains accessible, Cobb County has taken an extraordinary step to accommodate voters who've been inadvertently caught in a snafu with absentee ballots. A judge's order from the county courthouse this past Friday has extended the return deadline for a specific group of voters, identified as "Affected Voters," allowing for their ballots to be counted in the upcoming election. If you applied for an absentee ballot by October 25 and it wasn't mailed out by October 30, this includes you. Determining your status as an Affected Voter can be easily done by visiting the Cobb County Elections website.
An exigent response was made by mailing absentee ballots via express delivery, coupled with a pre-paid express return envelope for the Affected Voters residing within the U.S. For those beyond borders, living outside the United States, a digital lifeline was cast in the form of an emailed Federal Write in Absentee Ballot (FWAB). While the clock ticks on, the returning ballot's deadline is firm— it MUST be postmarked no later than 7 PM on Election Day, November 5, and MUST land in the Cobb Elections Office by 5 PM on Friday, November 8, as the county's directive outlines. Voters are advised—by physically hiring a USPS or UPS worker—to ensure the return envelope is properly postmarked with your enclosed absentee ballot, as the official announcement suggests.
Disconcertingly, some Affected Voters may find themselves without a ballot as Election Day dawns. The county implores these individuals to appear in person at their designated polling place tomorrow, November 5, where they can cast their vote.
For those navigating these turbulent electoral waters, the Cobb County Elections Office stands as a bastion of guidance and support. Questions that arise can be channeled through a phone call at 770-528-2581 or an email addressed to [email protected]. The Judge's order, which charts the course for this unprecedented approach to validating every Affected Voter's right to participate in the democratic process, can be reviewed by all interested parties here.
