Your Pa. election questions answered

The 2020 general election is just weeks away (Nov. 3). Politics aside, this presidential election will be unlike any other in living memory as millions of Pennsylvanians are expected to cast their ballot without stepping into a polling place. But between changes to state law, federal lawsuits over the process and the logistical challenges of voting in a pandemic, countless voters are uncertain about many of the specifics.

That’s why The Morning Call is creating a new series tackling questions Pennsylvania voters may encounter between now and Election Day. If you have questions about the elections process, fill out the form at the bottom of this story.

I RECEIVED AMAIL-IN BALLOT APPLICATION IN THE MAIL BUTNEVER REQUESTED ONE. WHATSHOULD I DO?

Many voters have been surprised to find mail-in ballot applications in their mailboxes this election cycle even though they never requested them. In a year when election security is at the forefront, some may find these unsolicited forms unnerving or suspicious.

Unlike some states, Pennsylvania does not send out unsolicited mail-in ballots or ballot applications to voters. Normally, anyone whowants to vote by mail needs to apply online, download the application and mail it in or go to their local elections office and pick up the form. Online voter applications can be found at www.votespa.com.

However, some organizations such as political parties, political campaigns and voter advocacy groups have mailed application forms to people listed on their contact lists. This is legal under Pennsylvania law, and groups have taken similar steps to get residents registered to vote in the past, said Wanda Murren, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Murren said the Department of State recommends that voters sign up for a mail-in ballot online at www.votespa.com. The online application is more secure and will be received faster than a mailed request, she added. Voters who are already signed up for a mail-in ballot or do not want a mail-in ballot can tear up any applications they receive in the mail and throw them away.

However, voters can fill out these ballot applications and send them to their local election office. So long as they arrive on time and are legitimate, voters will be signed up to vote by mail. Anyone opting to do this can compare the form they receive in the mail to the actual application by looking at the downloadable application at www.votespa. com, Murren said.

Voters should not confuse these applications with an actual mail-in ballot, Murren said. Mail-in ballots have not been sent to voters yet. Election officials in the Lehigh Valley expect the actual ballots won’t be mailed until the end of September or early October.

Each voter can only sign up to receive a single mail-in ballot. Anyone who sends multiple requests will only receive one ballot, assuming they are eligible to vote.

Murren noted that some of these unsolicited applications have been sent to the deceased or people who no longer live at that address, a sign that these organizations are using outdated mailing lists. If someone attempted to file forms in these people’s names, Murren said, the county election office should be able to flag them and will not send out a mail-in ballot for that person.

As an added precaution, residents can contact their local election office if they receive a mail-in ballot application sent to someone who no longer lives at that address.

The Lehigh Valley’s election offices can be contacted at:

Lehigh County: 17 S. Seventh St., Allentown, PA 18101 - Phone: 610-782-3194

Northampton County: 669 Washington St., Easton, PA18042 - Phone: 610-829-6260

I SIGNED UPFORAMAIL-IN BALLOT BUT CHANGED MY MIND.WHATSHOULD I DO?

Voters who already signed up for a mail-in ballot may be experiencing buyer’s remorse. Problems at the U.S. Postal Service have eroded confidence in the mail-in system. President Donald Trump and others have attacked the system as rife for fraud, though they have not provided evidence to back their claims.

Whatever their reason, voters whorequested a mail-in ballot do not have to use it in the November election. They have two alternatives.

Option 1: Voters can bring their mail-in ballot — with its envelopes — to their assigned polling place. A poll worker can then void the ballot and allow the voter to cast a regular ballot.

Option 2: Voters can go to their polling place and request a provisional ballot. These backup ballots are not counted until the county determines it did not receive a mail-in ballot from the voter.