Processing early vote requests

It’s only the middle of August, but already Oconee’s election office has received 3,500 applications from voters who want to cast their November ballot through the mail.  Perhaps, this is a sign of Oconee voters’ interest this year in electing a president.  Joy Scharich, elections director, recommends that those who can qualify to vote absentee and wish to vote through the mail start the process as soon as possible; she expects the Postal Service will become overwhelmed with requests from voters wishing to avoid in-person voting as a way to protect from catching COVID-19.  Early voting by mail has become a divisive political issue in 2020.  According to a wire service report, Republican President Trump concedes he is denying the Postal Service funds to make it harder to process a surge in vote-by-mail.  Trump fears mail balloting could cost him his re-election.  Democrats see Trump’s position as an attempt to restrict voting rights.  The office of Oconee Elections will open in-person absentee voting at Pine Street on October 5.