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Cobb County, Georgia’s third-largest county, is racing against time to deliver over 3,000 absentee ballots to voters just days before the election. To ensure timely delivery, election officials are utilizing express mail services and providing prepaid return envelopes.

Tori Silas, the county’s Board of Elections Chairwoman, emphasized their commitment to transparency and voter trust. She attributed the delay to equipment issues and a late surge in ballot requests before the October 25 deadline.

In response to the situation, a judge has extended the return deadline for affected Cobb County voters to November 8, provided the ballots are postmarked by Election Day.

Georgia has seen record-breaking early turnout since October 15, with over 3.8 million ballots cast as of Friday afternoon, representing more than half of the state’s active voters. This includes approximately 238,000 absentee ballots.

Cobb County officials have offered alternative voting options for those awaiting late absentee ballots, including in-person voting on the final day of early voting or on Election Day. The county’s election headquarters will remain open through the weekend and Monday to accept hand-delivered absentee ballots.

However, over 1,000 of the delayed absentee ballots are destined for out-of-state voters. County spokesperson Ross Cavitt refrained from commenting on the current status of ballot mailings, citing ongoing legal proceedings.

Civil rights groups have filed a lawsuit on behalf of three Cobb County voters who had not received their absentee ballots by Friday. The lawsuit argues that the county’s efforts to address the issue are insufficient to protect voters’ rights.

As the election approaches, Cobb County officials are working diligently to ensure all eligible voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots, despite the unexpected delays in absentee ballot distribution.