Elk County Commissioners hear about new design of absentee and mail-in ballots
RIDGWAY-At the Elk County Commissioners meeting on Mar. 21, Kim Frey, Director of Elections, announced that mail-in and absentee ballots will have a different look beginning with the April 23 primary election. This information is being made known ahead of the mailing to ensure that the ballot is not mistaken for junk mail and discarded.
The outgoing envelope is going to be 6 1/8 inches by 10 inches and it will have a blue stripe on one side. The secrecy envelope is yellow, and it measures 5 5/8 inches by 9 1/8 inches. The voter marks their ballot and puts it in the yellow envelope, which is then put into the return envelope which has a purple stripe on the side. Flip the return envelope over sign and date it and affix a standard postage stamp.
Local historian Ray Beimel is currently working with the St. Marys Boys and Girls Club on a project for the club’s 100th anniversary this year. The group is working on talking to people from all eras of the club from the inaugural opening in 1924 up to the current day.
“The St. Marys
Boys and Girls Club was a place where people from both sides of town were able to hang out, and it kind of became a melting pot for the community,” Beimel said. It was said that the Philadelphia Erie Railroad cut right between the town and broke it up to the north side and south side. Biemel stated, “I never played with kids on the other side of the tracks until I met them at the club.”
The first era that Biemel is focusing on is from the opening of the club up till the start of World War Two. Beimel described the first era saying, “There was a large emphasis on crafts, such as woodworking. They also worked on model airplanes from scratch from balsa wood.”
Instructions on how to mark the ballot are printed on a pink sheet, and voters should read it completely before marking the ballot. If there are any questions, contact the elections office at 814-776-5337.
“So, our ballots will be going out no later than April 9, and once voters receive their ballot, they should vote and get them back as soon as possible, but no later than the April 23 deadline. The ballot must be received in our office by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.”
“Our Dropbox outside of our office will be available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and will also be available the Saturday before Election Day from 8:00 a.m. to noon and on Election Day from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.,” concluded Frey.
The commissioners also announced that bids are being accepted until Mar. 28, 2024, for a 1998 Express Van with 20,000 miles on it. Bids will be opened at the Apr. 4 commissioners meeting.