Key Georgia county will overnight absentee ballots to voters who never got them, after lawsuit

Cobb County, Georgia, elections officials announced overnight plans to rush absentee ballots to voters left waiting weeks for their paperwork, scrambling to fix a distribution failure just days before the November election.

Priority Express Delivery for Delayed Ballots

The Cobb County elections office confirmed that absentee ballots will go out via priority express mail to voters who applied weeks ago but never received them. As Democracy Docket reported, the emergency measure follows a lawsuit filed against the county board of elections.

State law requires election officials to mail out requested ballots within three days during the early voting period, which opened October 5. Instead, roughly 2,900 voters who applied during the first week of October found themselves empty-handed as election day approached.

The board of elections acknowledged in a Wednesday statement that a limited number of voters experienced delivery delays. They pointed the finger directly at their third-party vendor, the New York-based Fort Orange Press, noting that the same company has caused mail ballot delays in several other states.

The Legal Push Behind the Emergency Action

Marietta resident Michael Olaribigbe forced the county’s hand by filing a lawsuit in Cobb County Superior Court, represented by the left-leaning Elias Law Group, led by Marc Elias. The legal action asked a judge to compel the county to overnight delayed ballots so those residents could participate in Tuesday’s election.

To secure a replacement, affected individuals have to sign an affidavit canceling their original ballot before officials overnight a fresh package featuring a prepaid return priority express envelope.

This rapid-response option specifically targets voters whose ballots were issued between October 7 and October 15. The county stated the offer does not apply to residents who already received their ballots by Wednesday, voted in person, or canceled their original paperwork.

Vendor Troubles and Partisan Stakes in a Key Senate Race

The distribution breakdown hits hard in Cobb County, a major Democratic stronghold in Georgia. With the state hosting a pivotal race for the U.S. Senate, every single vote carries intense weight.

Key Georgia county will overnight absentee ballots to voters who never got them, after lawsuit — Photo: ajc.com

While county officials attempt to overnight replacements to verified voters who apply, the mechanical friction of cancelling old ballots and issuing new express mailings introduces a frantic final-hour hurdle for local election administrators.

Voters still waiting on delayed materials must navigate the affidavit process immediately to ensure their voice counts before the state’s tight deadlines close the window entirely.