More than 3,000 voters in Cobb County, Georgia, have been granted an extension to return their absentee ballots following a ruling by Cobb County Superior Court Judge Robert Flournoy. The ruling allows absentee ballots from approximately 3,240 voters to be counted if postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day and received by 5 p.m. on Friday, November 8.
The decision came after the state acknowledged a delay in sending out the absentee ballots. Civil rights groups had filed a lawsuit against the county, expressing concerns that the delay could disenfranchise thousands of voters unable to return their ballots in time.
Judge Flournoy's order emphasized that the affected voters faced potential disenfranchisement due to circumstances beyond their control. The county was directed to expedite the mailing of absentee ballots with prepaid express return envelopes to ensure timely delivery.
In response to the situation, the county attributed the delay to a sudden influx of last-minute absentee ballot applications.
