
Michigan officials in Grand Rapids are investigating after 100 absentee ballots went missing in the mail, raising concerns about the reliability of absentee voting. The ballots, which were sent out on September 26, were meant for residents in the northwest part of the city, but voters reported that they never received them.
Grand Rapids City Clerk Joel Hondorp said it is not unusual for some absentee ballots to get lost, but having 100 go missing at once is rare. Hondorp confirmed that replacement ballots are being sent and the original ballots have been voided to prevent any potential confusion or double voting.
To help voters track their absentee ballots, Hondorp suggested using Michigan’s official voting website, which allows voters to see when their ballot was sent and when it is returned to election officials. He emphasized that voters should check the status of their ballots to ensure they are counted.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is working alongside the city to investigate the disappearance of the ballots. With a total of 32,000 absentee ballots mailed out for this election, the 100 missing ballots represent a small portion, but they have still raised concerns about the security and reliability of the mail-in voting process.
Officials are working to find the missing ballots and ensure that all voters receive their replacements in time for the election. Voters are encouraged to monitor their absentee ballots and report any further issues to the city clerk’s office.