A state Elections Commission survey of local clerks found no widespread increase in the number of absentee ballots that arrived after the deadline for the Aug. 11 primary.

But there also wasn’t any clear improvement compared to the April 7 spring election.

The anonymous survey found 9% of clerks who responded said they received more late absentee ballots for the August primary compared to the spring election, while 48% said the number was about the same.

The survey, conducted Sept. 3-9, didn’t ask clerks for the number of absentee ballots that arrived after the deadline of 8 p.m. on the day of the primary.

The commission did a more extensive survey of clerks after the April 7 election, and Chair Don Millis told WisPolitics in a phone interview he and Dem Commissioner Ann Jacobs asked for the latest poll to see if there were significant changes compared to the spring.

It comes as the commission has expressed concerns to the U.S. Postal Service about the time it takes to deliver ballots. The survey after the spring election found most clerks believed that mail was delivered within three to five days, which falls within the standards for First Class Mail. But a “substantial number” believed it took mailed ballots seven days or more to reach their destination.

Millis said he believed there’s a greater awareness now that those seeking to return their ballots by mail need to do it earlier. He also believed the number of late ballots may drop for the Nov. 3 election because people who vote absentee will make up their minds sooner than they did for the primary, which saw several Dems drop out of the race for governor in the weeks leading up to Aug. 11.

“Given the state of the electorate, I don’t think you’re going to be seeing people waiting until the last minute to vote,” Millis said. “We’re telling people to return your ballot two weeks beforehand.”

The Elections Commission shared results of the survey following a request from WisPolitics. Overall, 747 of the state’s 1,851 clerks responded. Fifty-seven percent said they received the same or more late ballots, while 37% said they received fewer after the deadline.

According to a commission summary of the results, more than 300 who responded also submitted written comments anonymously. They pointed to a combination of reasons for late ballots. That includes slower mail, ballots being routed to regional sorting facilities, last-minute voter decisions and a window that allows absentee ballot requests up until five days before an election that may not be compatible with the current mail system.

A city of Madison spokesperson said more than 200 absentee ballots were delivered to the Clerk’s Office after the Aug. 11 primary. That includes 142 that were postmarked on Aug. 10 or 11 and arrived Aug. 12 and 13. The city also received three ballots after Aug. 11 that were postmarked on July 11, 29 and 31.

The spokesperson said the number of late ballots for the Aug. 11 primary was about the same as April, when turnout was 51% in the city. It was 45% for the August primary.

Jacobs said surveys like the most recent one are the best way to look for issues.

“Each clerk may think their own situation is a fluke, but together we can see patterns, perhaps,” she said.