The Georgia Supreme Court has overruled an extension for absentee ballot returns in Cobb County, leaving voters scrambling on Election Day.
🗳️ Why It Matters: This decision could disenfranchise voters who relied on the now-blocked extension to ensure their absentee ballots were counted.
🔍 What’s Happening:
• Cobb County initially extended the absentee ballot deadline to Nov. 8 for ballots postmarked by Nov. 5, due to delays in mailing over 3,000 ballots.
• The Republican National Committee challenged this in the state Supreme Court, resulting in a reversal of the extension.
🚨 Between the Lines:
• The ruling now mandates ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5.
• Absentee ballots arriving after the deadline will be stored securely but not counted unless a future court decision changes the directive.
⚖️ In Context: The mail in Georgia has been a disaster in recent months ever since the postal service instituted a reorganization plan in Georgia. Georgia residents have not received important mail and have been unable to pay some bills by mail since the changes went into effect. Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff has been an ardent critic of the postal service’s moves in Georgia and has demanded action.