How do you deal with voice actors are taking a while?

You posted something similar to this a while back so I'm just going to copy / paste this here so more people see: 

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MMMMMM I can relate to this 10x. I give my voice actors like a month (?) to get their lines in but still end up nagging them if they don’t respond within a week. Usually I get my lines in really quickly but the lines for part three really took a while this time around so I was on high anxiety.

Most of the time it’s me thinking: “Am I being too needy/annoying with asking?”, “Are they still interested in voice acting for me?”, “Are they ignoring me?”. (Obviously it’s a main concern of mine to get some sort of validation from the people who voice act for me because it would be a major bummer if they dislike it and only feel obligated to continue, but I digress.) I think I ended up messaging them like three times before I got a response, but everything was alright in the end.

I worked out a system of communication between a producer and voice actor that I think really helps with your (and mine, and anyone elses) anxiety!

  - E-mail them with the script. In your message, give an approximate time frame in which you would like the episode to be out.
  - Ask them to reply for confirmation and ask them to give an approximate time they will be able to record their lines. This allows you to know they received your information as well as gives you a time frame to expect them to give you their lines. Also, it’s a psychological fact that people are more likely to do something if they commit to doing it within a set time frame they set. Since you already stated what time you want the episode to be out, the time frame they give you should be timely.
  - If they fail to give you their lines within the time limit they set, you’re totally allowed to message them again maybe a day or two after to remind them without feeling too annoying!

obviously this is just the way I operate, but maybe it will work for you as well!!

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Other than that, if you've contacted someone multiple times and they haven't replied or kept delaying their lines over an extended period of time, tell them that if they don't submit their lines to you within a reasonable amount of time, that you're forced to recast them.

and if they don't bother? Just recast them.

Thing is, their skype is the only way I can contact them so I'm afraid to recast them behind their back. (Plus, especially due to their real life things going about from what I recall.)

Maybe I should try that time frame and be a bit more strict (not to a point of being an asshole but more confident) about the time frame because sometimes, I am too scared for my own good.

When I send out lines for projects, I always set an exact date for deadlines. Personally, I prefer receiving exact deadlines when doing lines as well, otherwise I subconsciously put it off and end up forgetting. However, when an exact date is specified, I always think about it and it stays in my head so I don't usually miss a deadline.

When I send out lines, I encourage the voice actors that if something comes up and they can't meet it, to contact me and I'll give them an extension. However, I won't give them more than a couple extensions. I've had my fair share of irresponsible and unreliable voice actors, and once they show that they are either ignoring deadlines, asking for multiple extensions (I'm talking an extra month or two) or ignoring my contacting them altogether, it's time to find someone new.

If it came down to any of those last three situations I listed, I would send them a message or email saying that due to X reasons, I have no choice but to re-cast them. Depending on the situation, I may give them one final deadline and say if they don't get the lines in by then that I'll will find someone else for the role.

For me, I depend on voices before I get to animating or drawing any frames, so when production gets held up because a voice actor decided to not pay mind to a deadline set for a reason, it's really frustrating and isn't really fair to you. They signed up for a position which meant they were dedicating time and effort into something they said they'd do. When they don't follow up, it's disappointing because YOU could've saved time by finding someone more reliable then someone who just let you down and wasted your time, you know?

It sucks when your unreliable voice actors are your friends, but sometimes you really have to set your foot down and say "It's nothing personal, but..." and you gotta replace them as voice actors.

I actually had this issue with one of my characters...
My character Boss has had not one, not two, but three different voice actors.
I try to set a deadline, even though it's not exact. If someone was late with their lines, I would ask nicely for a reason and then decide whether I thought it was valid or not. Most of the time, excuses were valid, but eventually, I did have to recast.

I do like these suggestions everyone else has talked about. These are things I will keep in mind when I cast people in the future.