In light of recent cuts made by the Trump administration to the U.S. Postal Service, Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts is planning to increase the number of ballot drop boxes in Fulton County to take some of the burden of absentee ballots off of the postal service.

Pitts plans to enlist private sector partners by asking them to place ballot drop boxes at their locations.

“Specifically, stores like CVS, Walgreens, Publix, and Kroger would be ideal partners for us. They are well known, located in our neighborhoods and have, or can have, the required security,” Pitts said.

USPS has recently announced concerns about their ability to efficiently handle the volume of absentee ballots for the upcoming November 3 General Election. Georgia is one of 40 states affected by this issue.

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Earlier this year, the Georgia State Election Board allowed secure drop boxes to be used for the first time for voters to drop off their ballots. Pitts wants to expand that through partnerships with businesses.

“Given the potential problem of the return of absentee ballots in a timely manner by the U.S. Postal Service, I am asking certain private corporations that have stores in neighborhoods across Fulton County to partner with us and allow us to place drop boxes in their stores,” said Pitts.

Working with his special Elections Task Force, Chairman Pitts has set a goal of 40% of votes cast in future elections to be cast through absentee ballot by mail. Almost half of voters in the state voted absentee in the June 9 election.

In Georgia, ballots must be received by election officials before the polls close on Election Day.