When do I need to mail my ballot for it to count?

Oct. 27 is safest, but you could also turn it in Northampton County is promoting ‘on-demand voting.’ What’s that?

The 2020 general election is less than a month 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 tackling questions Pennsylvania voters may encounter between now and Election Day.

For months, elected officials across the state have encouraged voters to apply online for amail-in ballot. Demandforthe ballots is expected to behigh as people try to avoid long lines and large gatherings due to the coronavirus. But with Election Day about a month away, time constraints are growing tight.

AsOctober begins, there should still be enough time for voters to request a ballot through the state website www.votespa. com, receive their ballot in the mail and send it back to their local election office

in time to be counted. But voters should not be complacent; the U.S. Postal Service has warned that it is experiencing heavy delays due to cuts to its service. Longer delivery times may mean mail misses critical deadlines.

But voters who have not yet requested a mail-in ballot can pick one up in person at their local elections office. These ballots are just like other mail-in ballots — they can be mailed back, turned in at a local election office or slipped into an election drop box if the host county is using any. If the voter is so inclined, they could pick upthe ballot, fill it out and hand it back during the same visit.

“On-demand voting” — as Northampton County officials are calling this option — is not yet universally available. Some Pennsylvania counties have proven faster at printing up their ballots than others, and election offices may not have the ballots on hand right now. For example, Northampton County officials made these mail-in ballots available in late September. Lehigh County’s “on-demand” ballots became available Friday, Chief of Elections Timothy Benyo said. Voters interested in” on-demand voting” elsewhere should call their local elections office to see when they can pick one up.

Voters who have already requested a mail-in ballot through the state website or by mailing an application will have to wait. Voters cannot acquire an “on demand” ballot if they’re signed up to receive one in the mail.

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

Lehigh County: 17 S. Seventh St., Allentown; 610-782-3194

Northampton County: 669 Washington St., Easton; 610-8296260

When do I need to return my ballot for it to count?

With absentee and mail-in ballots starting to arrive in people’s mailboxes, the next critical step will be those voters filling out their ballots and sending them back to their counties to be counted.

Normally, local first-class mail would take a few days to reach its recipient, but 2020 has been anything but normal. The U.S. Postal Service has warned states that cuts to its service could affect delivery times, leading some ballots to miss critical deadlines if mailed too late.

Voters planning on mailing their ballots should give themselves at least a week before their state’s deadline, according to the USPS website. But in Pennsylvania, there are two ways of interpreting that advice.

Under state law, ballots must be at their local county election office by 8 p.m. Election Day. To meet this deadline, based on the post office’s advice, ballots should be in the mail no later than Oct. 27.

Voters who miss that deadline could push their luck thanks to a recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling about the recent changes to the election code. In its decision, the court ruled that ballots postmarked no later than Election Day that arrive by 5 p.m. Nov. 6 shall be counted. This ruling applies only to the 2020 election cycle.

Rather than mail ballots after Oct. 27, however, voters may be better off using a different method. Voters can turn their ballots over to their county election office in person through Election Day. Under state law, friends or family cannot do this on the voter’s behalf, not even a spouse.

Alternatively, some counties are using absentee and mail-in ballot drop boxes. Northampton County’s boxes are available at the following locations and times:

„ Bethlehem City Hall, 10 E. Church St., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays

„ Northampton County Courthouse, 669 Washington St., Easton, 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays

Northampton County Human Services Building, 2801 Emrick Blvd., Bethlehem Township, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays

„ Northampton County 911 Center, 100 Gracedale Ave., Upper Nazareth Township, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m Mon days through Fridays

Lehigh County has not announced when its drop boxes will be installed, but they will eventually be at:

„ North Whitehall Township municipal building, 3256 Levans Road

„ Upper Macungie Township municipal building, 8330 Schantz Road

„Cat as au qua municipal building, 90 Bridge St.

„ Lehigh County Government Center ,17 S. Seventh St ., Allen town „Emma us municipal building ,28 S. Fourth St.

The Lehigh County Government Center’s drop box will be available 24/ 7 when in place. The others will be available during their host municipality’s regular business hours when installed.