Elections office: Voters who got ballots without directions have been notified

The Beaufort County Elections Office said it has contacted all the people it could reach who received ballots without voting directions, but at least three people say they have not been called.

Joe and Francine Russ of Bluffton, and their daughter, Amanda, all received ballots that were missing voting instructions, but say they have not received a call from the elections office.

Last week, some printed absentee ballots were sent to voters that did not have instructions on how to vote in races with multiple open seats.

For instance, in Beaufort, there are five candidates for two open seats on the city council. In Bluffton, there are four candidates for two open seats on the town council.

Anywhere from 17 to 78 ballots that didn't have multi-seat directions were sent to voters Oct. 16 and 17, executive director Agnes Garvin said. She said she doesn't know the exact number of incorrect ballots because she doesn't "think it's newsworthy."

On Monday, Garvin said the office contacted 20 voters about ballots.

"I guess I was lucky I called in," Joe Russ said. "Unless you know ahead of time, then you don't know how many to vote for ... that could sway the votes. The question I have is, how many went out and how are they being contacted?"

Garvin said her office does not have phone numbers for those who haven't been contacted.

Russ, however, said the elections office does have his contact information.

Garvin said everyone who could be contacted was called by Friday. For those who did not answer, a message was left.

"They need to be calling us," she said. "Not a soul has called back in ... one man called and left his phone number ... but he never answered when called back."