The deadline for absentee ballots to be turned into the Schuylkill County election bureau is 5 p.m. Friday.

Election chief Frannie Brennan on Wednesday said she had issued 733 absentee ballots, but has received only 351 back.The Election Board on Wednesday hired 10 machine drivers in preparation for Tuesday's primary election.They are Bradley Tobin, $220; Amy Downer, Walter Leashefski, Wayne Robbins and Denise Wallace, all at $210 each; Jose Zurat, $200; Kenneth Eichenberg, $170; and Jason Frantz and William Klinger at $160 each.The varying rates reflect different responsibilities.The board also hired six people for the computing board at $70 each per day, beginning May 22. They are JoAnn Meyers, Susan Kester, James P. Klock, Rose Kern, Sharon Chiao, and Marylou McGinley.