During a Pandemic: VOTING 101

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
For many young adults, this is the first time that you are voting or voting in person (if you are not at school and living at home because of the pandemic). For anyone in Pennsylvania here is a breakdown of voting and other helpful things you should know BEFORE you go to the polls!

QUICK LINKS
HOW TO VOTE

By Mail
Mail-in and absentee ballots must be received by the county election office by 8 pm, June 2.
Polling places will be open from 7am to 8pm on election day. If you are in line when the polls close, you are entitled to vote.

If you have voted at your polling location before, you do not need to bring ID to vote. Only voters who are voting for the first time in their election district need to show ID. Acceptable ID includes both photo and non-photo ID.

Acceptable IDs for first-time voters:
  • Driver’s license
  • U.S. passport
  • Military, student, or employee ID
  • Voter registration card
  • Firearm permit
  • Current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government check
  • Any ID issued by the commonwealth or federal government
Note: An ID without your photo must have your address on it.

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

If you are planning to vote in person on election day, please follow these steps to help ensure a safe and orderly voting experience for everyone:
  • Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth. This can be a cloth mask or scarf, like you would wear in a grocery store. 
  • We strongly encourage voters to wear masks out of respect for their fellow voters and for the dedicated poll workers staffing the polling places. Voters who are not wearing a mask will not be denied their right to vote. 
  • Bring your own blue- or black-ink pen to mark your ballot and limit your exposure to shared surfaces.
  • Practice good hand hygiene. You may want to bring hand sanitizer with you, if you have it, for your personal use.
  • Maintain social distance from poll workers and other voters. This means staying about 6 feet apart from other people while you are waiting in line, checking in and voting.
  • Follow instructions from poll workers and other election officials. They are there to help things run smoothly.
  • Be patient. This will be a new experience for everyone involved. You can help by being patient and understanding while you exercise your right to vote.  
Frequently Asked Questions
  • What if my name isn't in the poll book?
The local officials at your polling place should call the county board of elections  to determine if you are registered. If you are, you should be able to vote. If the county cannot find your name, but you believe you are registered and omitted from the poll book, you may vote a provisional ballot .
  • What is a provisional ballot? 
A provisional ballot is a paper ballot which is provided to voters who believe they are registered voters but whose names do not appear in the sign-in book at the polling place. If you are a first-time voter who does not provide ID at the polls on Election Day, you will be offered a provisional ballot.

  • Can someone assist me at the polls?
You have the right to assistance if you cannot read or write; cannot read the names on the ballots; have difficulty understanding English; or are blind, disabled, or unable to operate the voting machine.

You may request help from a relative, friend, neighbor, or another voter. You do not need to be designated in the poll book district register as “assistance permitted” to receive this assistance.  If you want assistance, you must sign an Assistance Declaration , unless the poll book already indicates “assistance permitted.” You have the right to refuse assistance.
  • Who can be inside the polling place?
Only the following individuals are allowed inside or within 10 feet of the entrance to the polling place while voting is in progress:
  • precinct election officials,
  • polling place clerks
  • machine inspectors
  • approved poll watchers,
  • no more than 10 persons in the process of voting,
  • approved persons assisting voters, and
  • police officers in the act of voting or who have been called to the polling place to preserve the peace.
Everyone else, including individuals handing out campaign literature, must remain at least 10 feet away from the entrance to the polling place.

Act 77 was signed into law on October 31, 2019. The act paved the way for Pennsylvanians to have a more convenient and secure voting experience, including:
  • Introducing mail-in voting in Pennsylvania.
  • Extending the amount of time you have to register to vote and return your absentee or mail-in ballot.
  • Establishing an annual ballot request list.
  • Removing straight-party voting.
  • Prohibiting the use of stickers or paste-on labels for write-in candidates.
More information on voting in Pennsylvania can be found at https://www.pa.gov/guides/voting-and-elections/

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