ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY, N.Y. -- Absentee voters in the 23rd Congressional District will receive a second ballot in the mail this week. Board of Election offices across the district had to wait for the confirmation of John McHugh as the U.S. Army Secretary before they could include his vacant seat on the general election absentee ballot.

Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava, democrat Bill Owens and conservative candidate Doug Hoffman are running in the special election held November 3rd.

Once absentee voters receive the special election ballot, they must mail in the two ballots separately and they must be postmarked by November 2nd.

"As soon as we received them, our first priority was to make sure the military and the special federal voters were able to receive them as quickly as we had them in our hands," said St. Lawrence County Democratic Deputy Commissioner Julie Rolfe.

St. Lawrence County Board of Election officials say this late mailing will cost thousands of dollars.