Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
County sending letters to voters about ‘permanent’ mail-in ballots
WEST CHESTER » More than 100,000 Chester County voters will have the opportunity to make mail-in voting their permanent preference for future elections.
By Monday, staff at Chester County’s Voter Services will have sent letters to all county voters who selected the “permanent” vote-bymail option for the 2020 elections. The letter asks “permanent” voters to confirm their preference to continue receiving a mail-in or absentee ballot for both the primary and general elections in 2021.
The letter is going to more than 115,000 voters in Chester County who requested to be on the “permanent” list of mail-in voters for the 2020 elections. Sending this letter is an annual requirement of PA Act 77, the bipartisan bill that created the option to vote by mail.
The letter sent by Chester County Voter Services gives four response options:
1. Complete the online form via a link or QR code provided in the letter to receive ballots in the mail for both elections in 2021;
2. Complete a paper form included as part of the letter and return it to Voter Services to receive ballots in the mail for both elections in 2021;
3. Complete the section of the letter that requests cancellation of the permanent vote and return it to Voter Services to remove themselves from the permanent voter list.
4. Take no action, which means no ballots will be sent in the mail for both elections in 2021.
In the 2020 General Election, Chester County officially recorded 151,149 absentee and mail-in ballots, representing nearly 48 percent of all votes cast. Chester County’s complete voter turnout for the General Election topped 83 percent of all registered voters.
Proponents of mail-in
voting say it gave voters a safe alternative to in-person voting during the pandemic.
Opponents argue mail-in voting increases the opportunity for voter fraud.