Letter: Absentee ballots mishandled

The Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration and Elections needs to correct an ongoing negligent situation regarding absentee ballots. My experience surely is not an isolated instance.

I have applied three times for absentee ballots for the 2016 presidential primary, state general, and Town of Hilton Head Island elections. I have yet to receive a ballot for the state general election or the town election.

I was told that my first request was never received, so I did it again. My ballot for the presidential primary finally came and I immediately returned it. It was never marked received on the county board’s website.

After checking office hours on the website, I went to the Bluffton satellite office in October. The door was locked. The office hours and days were posted with no notice explaining the closed office. On the next day, posted on the website, was an announcement of changed office hours, a day too late for my visit.

I printed another ballot application, which was received, but when no ballots came, I called again. I was told the ballots were to be mailed on Oct. 17. As of Oct. 31, no ballot had arrived. I can only wonder how many absentee votes will be left out, and now you know why.

This story was originally published November 3, 2016 at 4:16 PM with the headline "Letter: Absentee ballots mishandled."