I-TEAM: A look at Helene’s impact on mail-in voting
- Federal funds: Money for hurricane assistance nears $2 billion
- Fact vs. fiction: A look at the false information around Hurricane Helene
- More help: New FEMA centers open for Helene victims across CSRA
- FEMA aid: Local renters can apply for assistance after Hurricane Helene
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Add mail-in voting to the growing list of things Helene has impacted as we’re just 19 days out from election day.
A major backlog of mail means there are concerns absentee ballots won’t make it in on time.
The post office downtown only shut down for a day after the hurricane hit.
It’s been reopened for weeks, but there is a backlog of mail which could include absentee ballots.
A steady line of early voters moves in and out of the municipal building.
Georgia Power offers installment plans after Hurricane Helene
Georgia Power on Thursday announced an initiative to give customers some options as they continue to recover and rebuild following Hurricane Helene.
Fisher, a Richmond County voter: “It took five minutes. It wasn’t long.”
Liz: “What made you decide to vote early?”
Fisher: “I don’t like the crowd.”
Helene could be the reason more voters show up in person from now until election day.
“I am waiting to hear from them what kind of services and delays we are having here in Richmond County,” said Richmond County Board of Elections Executive Director Travis Doss.
MORE FROM THE I-TEAM:
- A look at how officials assess Hurricane Helene damage
- Some say FEMA aid isn’t coming fast enough
- What to look out for when choosing a roofing company
- How to protect your home, wallet from tree damage
The same day the Board of Elections mailed off absentee ballots to voters in Richmond County, the U.S. Postal Service posted this, “Operations in Georgia are resuming but full recovering may take a while. There is significant work to be done to deliver a backlog of mail and packages and reopen routes in the areas hit hardest by Hurricane Helene.”
Among the five hardest hit areas impacting postal service? Zip codes beginning with 308 and 309.
“I know they’re doing the best they can to service everyone who has mail or mailboxes,” said Doss.
Fallen over, leaning over, squashed, smashed, camouflaged and flat-out missing in action mailboxes. Mail routes are now a maze of mailbox dead ends throughout Richmond County.
“If they already requested an absentee ballot and haven’t received it by this time, usually we ask about give it 10 days from the date that we mail it out to the date that they receive it. They have two options: they can request another one, which they may or not get to them, or they can vote early,” said Doss.
If you already mailed in your absentee ballot but worry maybe it didn’t arrive, there is a way to check online to see whether or not the Board of Elections got it or not.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
