Excerpt:

"Election officials said early voters who have complained that they haven't received their ballots yet shouldn't worry. They're on the way.

"There are a lot of factors as to why they haven't received their ballots. I know the post office is a little bit slow," said Yvonne Reid, spokeswoman for the Maricopa County Elections Office."

It's not our fault!

The checks in the mail?

What's next?

The dog ate my homework!

What's going to happen on the ballot's return trip back to be counted?  Is it still going to be "in the hands of the post office"?

 

Entire Story:

No need to worry; mail-in ballots on their way to voters

Eugene Scott
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 26, 2006 12:00 AM Election officials said early voters who have complained that they haven't received their ballots yet shouldn't worry. They're on the way.

"There are a lot of factors as to why they haven't received their ballots. I know the post office is a little bit slow," said Yvonne Reid, spokeswoman for the Maricopa County Elections Office. "We have processed within the time we were supposed to turn it around."

Reid said the elections office is responsible for turning around request in 48 hours. About 430,000 voters have requested mail-in ballots for the upcoming gubernatorial election - up 27,000 from the 2002 election, Reid said. That follows national trend of more voters turning in mail-in ballots.

"They are now in the hands of the post office," she said.

Many residents have complained about not receiving their ballots yet, but Reid said there is still plenty of time left. Voters have until Oct. 27 to request an early ballot.

"I'm not worried. We're still talking two weeks away from the election," she said. "But if they haven't gotten it by that Friday before the election, I would really be concerned."

Voters should call the Elections Office, Reid said.

But some voters have called early about their late ballots and, in return, have received two.