POSTPONED BY PANDEMIC

Officials urge voters to request mail-in ballots

Residents of Pennsylvania and the country will have another year to obtain a Real ID.

Pennsylvania’s 2020 primary election has officially been postponed to June 2.

Gov. Tom Wolf signed the fiveweek election delay into law Friday after both chambers of the state Legislature unanimously agreed to the provision earlier this week.

Lawmakers from both parties had warned that holding the election on its original date — April 28 — would have discouraged voters and poll workers from participating out of fear for their safety, with the spread of COVID-19 potentially continuing to limit social gatherings.

“Delaying this year’s primary election as several other states have done is in the best interests of voters, poll workers and county election officials,” Mr. Wolf wrote in a statement. “I commend the General Assembly for acting quickly on this critical legislation. The Department of State will continue to work with local election officials to ensure Pennsylvania has a fair and accessible election.”

The legislation signed by the governor also permits counties to tally their absentee and mail-in ballots earlier on Election Day and gives them the authority to consolidate polling places without court approval in response to a potential shortage in poll workers.

Pennsylvania officials are continuing to urge voters to request mail-in ballots as an alternative to in-person voting. More than 215,000 registered voters have signed up for a mail-in or absentee ballot so far, according to the governor’s office.