Election Day is right around the corner, are you prepared to vote?
PENNSYLVANIA STATE | November 1st at 5 PM is the deadline to apply for a mail ballot for the November 8 general election.
“Pennsylvanians still have time to apply online for a mail-in or absentee ballot or to apply in person at their county board of elections office,” Pennsylvania Secretary of State, Leigh M Chapman said. “Voters who wish to vote by mail should act fast and submit their application as soon as possible to allow enough time for their ballot to be mailed to them and then returned to their county election office before the deadline.”
Voters can choose to complete the mail ballot and submit it in person to their county election office, Only registered voters can vote via mail ballot.
So far, more than 1 million Pennsylvania voters have applied for a no-excuse mail-in ballot and more than 144,000 voters have applied for an absentee ballot in advance of the general election.
As per the Pennsylvania Department of State, when voters receive their mail ballot, they should:
- Read the instructions carefully.
- Fill out the ballot, being sure to follow instructions on how to mark selections.
- Seal the ballot in the inner secrecy envelope marked “Official Election Ballot.” Be careful not to make any stray marks on the envelope.
- Seal the secrecy envelope in the pre-addressed outer return envelope.
- Complete the voter’s declaration on the outer envelope by signing and writing the current date.
- Affix a postage stamp to the outer envelope before mailing.
For the mailed ballots to count, they must be received by the county boards of elections no later than 8 PM on November 8th regardless of postmark. Some counties are providing drop boxes or drop-off sites for mail ballots. Voters should check their county’s website for information on locations.
Of course, voters may also choose to vote in person as long as they have not already voted by mail, polls will be open from 7 AM to 8 PM. If a voter has already received their mail-in or absentee ballot, they may still vote in person if they bring the ballots and envelopes with them to be voided. The voters must then sign a declaration and then may vote on a standard ballot. Those who have already mailed in their ballots, may not vote in person on Election Day.
Voters can find their polling place on vote.pa.gov.
Voters who requested a mail ballot and did not receive it or do not have it to surrender may vote by provisional ballot at their polling place. The provisional ballot will be reviewed by the county board of elections after Election Day to determine whether it will be counted.
On November 8, Pennsylvania voters will elect a governor, lieutenant governor, and U.S. Senator, as well as all the state’s 17 congressional representatives, 25 of its 50 state senators, and all 203 of its state House members.
“The important thing is to exercise your constitutional right to vote and let your voice be heard, no matter which voting method you use,” Chapman said.
For more information on voting in Pennsylvania call the Department of State’s year-round voter hotline at 1-877-868-3772, visit vote.pa.gov
