Indiana clerk blames post office for absentee ballot delays

Some Indiana absentee ballots, mailed two weeks ago, are still missing near Brookville, and Franklin County's clerk says post office delays are to blame.

SOME INDIANA VOTERS AREALREADY MISSING BALLOTS.COUNTYCLERKS SENT MAIL-IN ENVELOPESTWO WEEKSAGO.SOME MADE IT.OTHERS --LANDED IN CINCINNATI.REPORTERLARRY SEWARD TALKED TOELECTION OFFICIALS -- ABOUTTHE SOLUTIONS THEY ARE WORKINGON.All Franklin County ballotscome from Brookville.

Whileits postmaster is sorting "intownmail with fewproblems... there areroadblocks between absenteeballots and voters living inareas outside town limits."(nats tc 11:34:16)"we providethe postage yes..."(track)Freeto get and send... Indianaabsentee ballots...(sot/ tc11:20:27/ neysa raible/franklin co clerk)"the mailjust scares us because ittakes too long."(track)...arehandfuls of aggravation morethan taxing neysa raible athome and work.(sot/ tc11;16:54/17:00 / neysa raible/franklin co clerk)"I know mymother, she lives in DearbornCounty... she's still waitingon her ballot to come in..."(track)The Franklin Countyclerk hears voters gripe andyell about ballots missing inthe mail for week(sot/ tc11:17:12/ neysa raible/franklin co clerk)"the firstfew days we probably had tencalls a day saying my husbandgot his.

I didn't get mine.and then, you know, it's outof our control because wesendit to the post office andwe're expecting them to getthat service."(track)Theproblem lies 39 milessouthwest... across statelines in Cincinnati, wheremail from areas aroundBrookville is sorted thentrucked back to FranklinCounty.A post officespokesperson told us thismorning they would "look intoit and get back" with us.

Weare still waitinRaible'soffice had trouble four yearsago, too.Her county's 13polling places had less than300 absentee votes.For nextmonth's presidentialelection... they already havemore than 1000 but just 200have made itback for counting.(sot/ tc11:17:33/ neysa raible/franklin co clerk)"i justworry that it's going to makethem think that there's beingtampering with the ballots andthings like that."(track)Sothey're unpacking piles ofsanitizer... masks... andalcohol wipes..

And preparingnew election machines forcrowds of early voters.Raibleis pushing people to voteearly in person if they'reconcerned about the mail.Thosewho do need patience.Peoplerequesting an absentee ballotmust wait for its delivery,then bring it to countystaff... sign paperwork tovoid their mail vote and castone in person.(sot/ tc11:22:45/ neysa raible/franklin co clerk)"it's sad tome thinking that electionballots have to go to anotherstate before they get backhere and i think that'd be agreat thing if we could changethat."(track)It is a safetymeasure to prevent fraud butdoes little TO keep Indianavotes from crossing statelines.