The Bethel Town Clerk is providing an update on Absentee Ballot voting for the Democratic and Republican Primary.  More than 1,600 Bethel voters mailed in applications.  The applications were scanned into a centralized voter system used for every vote.  The state electronically processed the information to mail out the ballots directly.  The Secretary of the State's office apparently hired a mailing house to process the actual ballots.  The mailing house is located in Rhode Island.  The ballots were to be mailed on July 21st, but they weren't mailed until the 27th.  The Town Clerk's office has been fielding calls from residents on their whereabouts, because the application stated to call the town clerk if the ballot didn't arrive in a week.  People should not send a second application as it will be null and void.  As the 11th draws closer, ballots should be returned directly to the secure BALLOT BOX located directly in front of the main municipal entrance.  They should not be placed in the yellow town drop box.