
Grand Rapids residents are left wondering where their absentee ballots went after the city clerk’s office reported that 100 ballots, sent out in late September, have gone missing in the mail. The ballots were meant for voters in the northwest part of the city but never reached their intended recipients.
Grand Rapids City Clerk Joel Hondorp said it’s not uncommon for some absentee ballots to get lost, but having 100 missing is an unusual case. Both the city and the United States Postal Service (USPS) are investigating the disappearance to determine what went wrong.
In response, Hondorp has issued replacement ballots for those affected. He explained that the original ballots have been voided to prevent any confusion, and voters can identify their new ballots by checking the number on them. Hondorp recommended that all voters track their ballots on Michigan’s voting website to ensure they are properly processed.
With over 32,000 absentee ballots sent out for the election, this incident represents a small percentage, but it has sparked concerns about the reliability of the absentee voting system. Local officials are working with the USPS to resolve the issue and ensure that all votes are properly counted.
The investigation into the missing ballots is ongoing, and the city clerk’s office is urging voters to remain vigilant and report any further problems. Hondorp stressed that the situation is being handled promptly and that all eligible voters will be able to participate in the election.