The Coos County Clerk issued a statement on Tuesday saying the delivery of ballots across the county has been delayed by an unexplained error at the U.S. Postal Service.
According to Clerk Julie Brecke, many voters have not yet received their ballots. Brecke declined to comment on the matter further.
"My office has been inundated by calls from understandably frustrated voters who haven鈥檛 received their ballot," her statement reads.
Laura Kerns, communications director for the Oregon Secretary of State鈥檚 Office, said in a statement that the delay was caused by human error at the USPS.
Brecke says any Coos County voters who haven鈥檛 received their ballot yet shouldn鈥檛 count on it arriving at this point. Instead, they should call the county clerk (541-396-7610) or go to their office in person (250 N Baxter St, Coquille) as soon as possible. The clerk can issue replacement ballots for voters who never received one.
"Please be patient and leave a message if we do not answer, as we are dealing with a high volume of calls, I assure you that we will get back to you," Brecke's statement reads.
In an email from Deputy Secretary of State and Tribal Liaison Cheryl Myers to the USPS on October 25, Myers asks the agency to issue a public statement acknowledging the delay and writes, "Coos County saw the same delays during Oregon鈥檚 May primary and I join the clerk in her frustration that whatever caused the May delay is happening once again. While we are seeing delays statewide, the recurrence of delays in Coos County is particularly severe and problematic."
USPS Strategic Communications Specialist Kim Frum said in a statement Thursday, "The U.S. Postal Service is committed to the secure, timely delivery of the nation鈥檚 Election Mail. In 2024, just as we have in previous elections, the Postal Service is fulfilling its role in the electoral process when voters choose to utilize vote by mail as a part of the election system."
Frum said USPS is aware of the concerns in Coos County and has communicated with county officials, saying in a statement, "The Postal Service received and processed 49,255 ballots for Coos County on 10/17, 98% of these ballots were properly processed and delivered, however there was a sorting issue affecting 985 ballots."
But Kerns with the Secretary of State said there hasn't been any communication.
"Neither our office nor the clerk have heard from USPS and we have no explanation why this error happened," Kerns' statement reads. "The good news with vote by mail is there鈥檚 still time for these voters to receive and cast a ballot 鈥� so long as they take action now to get in touch with the clerk."
There have been concerns raised about whether or not the USPS can handle the high volume of election mail. Local postal workers and residents have said consolidation of postal services has led to slower mail delivery.
This story has been updated to include a statement from USPS Strategic Communications Specialist Kim Frum.
