These New Yorkers, who mailed their ballots properly and on-time for last November's election, all believed that their votes would be counted when in fact they were not. Ackerman said that last year, Post Offices in New York failed to postmark nearly 900 absentee ballots mailed before the election. With no proof, the Boards of Elections in each borough had no choice, but to not count the ballots. Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island did not experience the problem. Among the New Yorkers who sent in the absentee ballots were many sick and elderly too ill to vote in person, individuals traveling out of town and college students away at school.
Federal law allows absentee ballots for military personnel to be mailed postage free.
It is a disgrace that New Yorkers in uniform overseas, who are making the world safe for democracy were denied their right to vote due to this unconscionable blunder. The same problem was also experienced by numerous federal employees temporarily stationed outside New York. Ackerman noted that the mess-up was not limited to last year. According to the Board of Elections in each Borough, both problems have been ongoing for at least the last six years. According to the Manhattan Board of Elections, sixteen absentee ballots have already been delivered without being postmarked.