Ballot blunders | Absentee ballot delays creating problems for elderly, disabled voters in Georgia
Ballot blunders | Absentee ballot delays creating problems for elderly, disabled voters in Georgia
Carlyle Place residents Harley and Ann Meia have lived at the Macon retirement community for the past 12 years. But this year, their mailbox is turning up empty.
MACON, Ga. — Monday marks eight days until Election Day.
This afternoon, Georgia crossed the threshold of more than 3 million ballots cast.
But as Georgia voters show up in big numbers, there are still some voters waiting to be part of that early push.
Carlyle Place residents Harley and Ann Meia have been married for 54 years and have lived at the Macon retirement community for the past 12.
But this year, their mailbox is turning up empty.
“What can you do about basically being disenfranchised? There’s nothing that can be done,” Ann said. “If I could help the problem, which is a bigger one than just the election, [it’s] the post office. I would push him to Northway, that’s our polling place.”
Wheeling to the polls is not an option she thought they would ever consider, but Ann says she has a hard time helping her husband in and out of the car.
They filled out the paperwork in August and called the elections office to follow up.
While Ann lives in the independent section of the living community, Harley is supported through dependent care while suffering from Parkinson’s.
Harley is originally from Argentina, and he’s been voting in every election since he became a U.S. citizen in 1968.
“I’m very unhappy that he can’t because he has done that every year, every election, and he has studied the people. It’s almost embarrassing for me because he works,” Ann said. “I’m sure there’s people that can’t walk or whatever to their polling place.”
They say other residents are facing the same issue.
Ann says at least one wheelchair-bound resident has opted to pay for a service to transport himself to the polls this week.
Their community has shuttles that take residents to doctors’ appointments, so she’s planning to talk with management tomorrow to try and get more residents bussed to a voting location.
“I’m 90-something years old, what can you expect for a 90 year old,” Harley said. “I want to vote once more.”