A suburban Philadelphia county has extended its deadline for returning absentee ballots for the upcoming election after officials said less than half of the ballots have been sent back.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports a Montgomery judge gave voters until Election Day to return ballots to the county. County elections officials say just 40 percent of 29,000 absentee ballots sent out have been returned.
The judge extended the deadline to allow as many of the remaining 17,000 voters to return their ballots as possible.
County officials in Norristown, about 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia, said they received "unprecedented demand" for absentee ballots this election cycle.
“We are pleased Judge Moore granted us this extension, so all those who have qualified absentee ballots are able to participate in this process,” Valerie Arkoosh, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Elections said in a statement.
Both Democrats and Republicans expressed concern and supported the extension.
The Montgomery County Voter Services is also extending hours to support those who want to return their absentee ballots in person.
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All absentee ballots must be received by the office of Voter Services at One Montgomery Plaza, 425 Swede Street, Suite 602, Norristown, PA by 8p.m. on Tuesday, November 8.
