The United States Postal Service is kicking into high gear as it prepares to process the early and absentee ballots.
This comes as some voters are receiving those ballots later than normal.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and United States Postal Service say they are committed to the security and sanctity of all mail, including ballots.
For some, though, just getting their hands on the ballot to fill out has become an issue.
“We send our voter file out to a vendor,” said Republican Monroe County Board of Elections Commissioner Peter Elder. “The vendor had, believe it or not, an envelope issue which did slow down the ballots as they went out.”
“It’s the very first large wave that we send, and there was a little bit of a backlog in regards to the envelopes that were available to get everything out,” said Democratic Monroe County Board of Elections Commissioner Jackie Ortiz.
That issue prevented some ballots from reaching voters.
The New York State Board of Elections says it is aware of the issue with the vendor, stating, “We are still investigating and NYSBOE is coordinating with local boards of elections to ensure that all ballots are delivered timely regardless of any external vendor issues.”
That vendor is Fort Orange Press, located in Albany.
On its website, Fort Orange Press says it’s a partner to state boards of elections and is one of the nation’s leading ballot printing and mailing experts.
The postal service says any ballot that lands in the mail will get where it needs to be swiftly. Adding, “In the final weeks of the election season, USPS also implements extraordinary measures to swiftly move ballot mail that is entered close to when it must be received by the local election office. This year, extraordinary measures begin Saturday, Oct. 24.”
“So even though they got a little later, people are and have been still getting them back out to us,” said Elder.
“Certainly, we would have liked them to get it out sooner,” said Ortiz. “But, you know, unfortunately, when everyone’s requesting these across the state and you’re a vendor for multiple counties, things potentially happen.”
The state BOE says that each county selects its own vendors.
Several vendors are used by the state’s 62 counties.
And some boards print their own ballot material.
“I know a little bit about it because my father-in-law votes for absentee ballot,” said Rep. Joe Morelle, adding, “I am paying attention to it and have been involved in a number of conversations about it. But I think you’re starting to see a pickup of more people voting by mail. So, you know, you got to get this right, got to get it right.”
Important dates for early voters:
The ballot must it be postmarked by Nov. 3 and must be received by the County Board of Elections no later than Nov. 10.
You can bring it to an early voting poll site in your county between Oct. 24 and Nov. 1.
Or on Election Day, you can drop it off at your county board of elections office or a poll site in your county before 9 pm.
Spectrum News 1 has reached out to Fort Orange Press seeking more information and is still waiting to hear back.