Sterling Heights [Michigan] clerk receives dozens of late absentee ballots in mail

[demmiblue]

The Sterling Heights clerk said Monday that 165 absentee voter ballots for the Aug. 4 primary election arrived in the mail six days late, underscoring delivery problems with the U.S. Postal Service that businesses and government agencies have been experiencing for months during the coronavirus pandemic.

The late ballots, which now can't be legally counted despite being postmarked five days before the primary, could have been enough to change the outcome of one Democratic primary for the Macomb County Commission that was narrowly decided by 87 votes.

Sterling Heights clerk Melanie Ryska said the ballots arrived at her office Monday and were postmarked July 30 at "Metroplex," meaning they were likely processed at the either the U.S. Postal Service's Detroit or Pontiac mail facilities.

"This is quite uncommon for us," said Ryska, who has worked in election for 18 years and became the clerk of Michigan's fourth largest city in 2017.

A USPS spokeswoman did not immediately respond late Monday to a request for comment from Crain's.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/government/sterling-heights-clerk-receives-dozens-late-absentee-ballots-mail

[live love laugh]

1. If postmarked timely they should be counted. nt

[jimfields33]

2. I agree and am actually surprised they are not counted.

If they were stamped the day after the due date, I’d say toss them. But the voters did what was required.

[LisaL]

3. States have rules on when the ballots are supposed to arrive. postmarked or not.

[jimfields33]

4. I know. Just sucks.

[LisaL]

5. Post office is being messed with.

[dsc]

6. in many states they would be counted based on post mark

apparently MI isn't one.