On the notable date of November 5, the state of Pennsylvania will witness a significant turnout of voters to exercise their democratic rights in electing their preferred presidential candidate, choosing members of the U.S. House and Senate, as well as for state row offices, such as the attorney general, auditor general and treasurer. It’s astonishing how this simple exercise of a citizen’s right has become controversial, and largely due to the spread of misinformation from quarters expected to uphold truth and transparency. While some voters trust in the tradition of voting at their neighborhood polling stations, an increasing number have begun to appreciate the convenience of mail voting; a system which has been criticized and politicized but yet remains legal and a legitimate option for all registered Pennsylvania voters.
The process of voting by mail is not rocket science, even though some segments are doing their best to present it as such. Any registered voter in the great state of Pennsylvania can request for a mail ballot either online, in person at a county election office, or through the mail. These applications are also citizen-friendly, with provisions made for Spanish and Chinese versions beyond English. To keep the process fair and orderly, all applications are required to be submitted before 5 p.m. on October 29 to the county election board.
For first-time voters or those who are yet to register, they have until October 21 to become registered voters in order to participate in the democratic process. Online submissions for voter registration are accepted until 11:59 p.m., while mail and in-person applications must be dropped at the county board of elections by 5 p.m. It’s worth noting that postmarks aren’t accepted as proof of timely submission, making it essential to submit applications early. Mind you, because authenticity and accountability are paramount in this process, some form of identification is needed when applying for a mail ballot.
Speaking of accountability, this ease and convenience doesn’t mean that one can gamble with the seriousness of the process or take advantage of it for personal motives. The rules are clear and cut across the board. As a voter, you have the option to apply for a one-time mail ballot or become part of an annual mail ballot list which provides an application each year. But if you opt for the latter, bear in mind that this application must be submitted every year if you plan to vote by mail. Loopholes? There’s hardly any.
Rarely, a situation might arise where you find yourself missing the deadline due to an emergency. Still, a provision exists for such cases, where you can request an emergency application for an absentee ballot. Reminds you of how well thought out the system is, and the lengths to which laws have gone to accommodate every single potential voter.
The question that often props up is: how do you ensure your ballot is counted and not dismissed as ‘invalid’? It’s simple – follow the instructions on your mail ballot. Your responsibility doesn’t end just by marking your preferred candidate; you have to ensure that the ballot is correctly dated. In light of this, state officials took it upon themselves to redesign mail ballots this year to eliminate common errors that have previously led to ballot rejections. Did it work? The state believes so, as they reported fewer mail ballot rejections due to voter errors in the primary.
Noteworthy changes made include the pre-printing of the full, four-digit year in the date field on the return envelope by the Pennsylvania Department of State. This takes away the burden from voters, who now only need to fill in the month and day fields, and their signature. A seemingly small change that, yet, has the potential to significantly reduce voter errors.
Just like taking an exam, there’s a certain way of filling out your ballot. This includes using only blue or black ink. Your ballot kit will include two envelopes—an inner privacy envelope labelled ‘official election ballot’ and an outer envelope. Seal your completed ballot in the inner envelope without writing anything on it, and then place it in the outer envelope which should be sealed afterwards. Remember to sign and date below the voter declaration on the outer envelope, taking note not to accidentally write your birthdate instead.
Postage fees might vary with counties. Some counties pay for postage, while others don’t. Check your county election website to verify. Make sure you put sufficient postage, as longer mail ballots may require additional payment. It’s one of those details that, if missed, could render your efforts futile.
After ensuring you’ve filled out your ballot correctly and have it ready to be counted, the next step is returning it. Your ballot should reach your county election board by 8 p.m. on Election Day. If hand-delivering your ballot in person or using a drop box, it has to be done within your county. Any attempt to deliver it to another county won’t get it counted. Seems fair, doesn’t it?
But just in case you can’t hand-deliver your ballot, you recourse to a good old-fashioned way – the mail. Ensure to use the proper postage and send it in good time. If you decide to hand-deliver your ballot, remember to follow all instructions to the letter. Some counties give the option of designated return sites aside from the county election offices. A quick online search would reveal the address for your specific county election office or drop-off site.
Perhaps drop boxes suit your taste more? Considered a secure means of returning a mail ballot by the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, drop boxes have, however, come under scrutiny and have been politicized by certain quarters. They can’t be found in all counties though, so it’s worth checking out your county’s website for an official locations list.
After submitting your ballot, don’t you want to know if it got there? Good news! You can track its status online, thanks to a dedicated barcode on every mail ballot outer envelope. It’s only when this barcode is scanned that it will register as received. But just to be sure, the actual counting holds off until Election Day, according to Pennsylvania law. And in the rare event that a disability could prevent your from returning your ballot, the system has got you covered. By filling out a form, you can designate someone else to return it for you. The catch? You’ll need to submit the form with your mail ballot application, and your designee should have this form when returning your ballot.
Democrat-supported Mail-in Voting: A Comedy of Errors? appeared first on Real News Now.
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