Concerns over widespread reports that mail had not been delivered to some neighborhoods in Bend's 97702 ZIP code for several days were heightened recently as residents waited to receive their ballots for the Nov. 5 election, which should have started arriving in mailboxes Wednesday.

But after days of missed mail on Bend's east side and in southwest Bend, the U.S. Postal Service said deliveries to the ZIP code were up to date as of Sunday night, attributing the delays to "temporary staffing challenges last week."

"As you know, last Monday, Oct. 14 was a federal holiday and there was no mail delivery," said Kim Frum, strategic communications specialist with the Postal Service. "A combination of the staffing shortages, the holiday weekend volume and regular daily volume during the week led to some delays."

Bob Byrtus from southeast Bend said the only day he received mail last week was Tuesday, and he was concerned not just because he hadn't received his ballot but because he was waiting for a check to come in the mail.

"The timing is bad. You're looking for the ballot ... and then no information, and it's four days, so it did get to be a concern," Byrtus said.

Byrtus has since confirmed he received his ballot by Monday morning and that the check he was waiting on was also delivered.

Steve Dennison, Deschutes County clerk, said it's "typical" for there to be some delays as ballots work their way through the postal system and that they ask voters to "give it a week" before looking to replace a ballot.

"At least wait another day or two," Dennison said. "They do tend to prioritize election mail."

If this Wednesday comes around and a voter still hasn't received a ballot, the count clerk's office will issue a replacement, he said. If a replacement ballot is sent and the first one later arrives in the mail, Dennison emphasized that voters must use the replacement envelope otherwise the vote cannot be counted.

Frum did not comment about the effects this delay had in regards to election security other than to say that, "The U.S. Postal Service is committed to the secure, timely delivery of the nation's Election Mail."

Resources published by the U.S. Postal Service for election mail can be found on its website, https://tinyurl.com/42hussbf