All of the territory’s military and overseas voter primary ballots were in the mail as of June 30, late but on the way, according to V.I. Supervisor of Elections Caroline Fawkes.

The Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act requires states to provide absentee ballots no later than 45 days before a federal election, which would have been June 17.

The ballots were late in part because the St. Thomas-St. John Board of Elections had to repeatedly revise the ballot to correct misspelled names, fill in omissions and clarify bad instructions. (See Related Links below)

“Ballots have been issued late for reasons beyond our control as we transition to a new system which required an extensive review and editing of the ballots which caused delay,” Fawkes said in a statement, adding that, of the six absentee applicants in both John districts, only three applied on or before the June 17 deadline to do so, she said. July 15 is the deadline for receipt of absentee applicants for those who fall under the MOVE Act.