To the Editor: 

The Knox County Board of Elections contacted me saying they could not accept my ballot. My absentee ballot had arrived at their offices with my signature and vote slashed off, completely detached and gone. The rest of the ballot was intact and unadulterated; however, without my signature, they could not accept it. Over the phone, they told me I would need to come to vote in person because they were having difficulties with people in Knox County receiving their absentee ballots because of the postal service, and they were concerned that if they sent me another ballot through the mail system, it wouldn't reach me in time or reach me at all. 

When I arrived at the Board of Elections to vote in person, I spoke with Jack Goodman, the deputy director. He told me that there are people in Knox County who have not received their absentee ballots because of the mail system, and the board was trying to notify those people personally. 

People should be aware of the problems many in Knox County have been facing with the delivery of their absentee ballots and the problem with my slashed ballot. Citizens should consider dropping off their ballot in person to the Board of Elections or voting in person. I notified the Ohio Secretary of State's office about this issue and was told that they collect complaints and analyze them after the election to identify patterns of problems. Contact them if you are facing possible disenfranchisement. No matter what one's political persuasion is, we can all agree that a fair election is essential to our liberty. 

April Ponto

Gambier