County election deadlines reviewed

Polling place moves, security concerns discussed

NORRISTOWN >> With the general election less than one month away, Montgomery County officials reminded area residents of the upcoming voter registration deadline.

It’s slated for 5 p.m. on Monday, according to Montgomery County Board of Elections Chairman Ken Lawrence Jr. He stressed during Thursday morning’s Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting that “postmarks do not apply” and that people must register by 5 p.m. on Oct. 24.

There are several ways that voters can cast their ballots: by absentee, mailin or in person at the polls on Nov. 8, according to Lawrence.

Those interested in voting by mail need to have their mail-in ballot requested by Nov. 1.

A dozen drop boxes will soon open across Montgomery County. They have caused controversy in recent months as area residents have expressed security concerns.

Drop boxes will be posted from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. beginning on Oct. 29 until Nov. 8 when the polls close on Election Day. Drop boxes will be located in Cheltenham, Lansdale, Lower Merion, Norristown, Pottstown, Royersford, Skippack, Upper Dublin, Upper Frederick, Upper Merion, and Upper Moreland townships.

The drop boxes will be monitored by video surveillance, according to Lawrence, who added that representatives from the Montgomery County Office of

Voter Services will also be available to assist voters as they return their mail-in ballots. For more information, visit montcopa.org/voterservices.

Additional satellite offices for the Montgomery County Office of Voter Services will open on weekends in Lansdale, Lower Merion, Norristown, Pottstown, and Willow Grove.

Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Gale, a vocal critic of mail-in voting, used his opening comments during Thursday’s meeting to address the election.

“It is my understanding that when mail-in ballots are tallied on election day any and all undated or incorrectly dated mail-in ballots should not and must not be counted,” Gale said.

New Hanover Township resident Barb Furman agreed.

“Signature verification matters. Dated ballots that are legal matter,” she said.

Gale has previously opposed the certification to the past several elections.

“If undated or incorrectly dated ballots are counted in Montgomery County, the

county in which I serve as both a member of the (Montgomery) County Board of Commissioners, and the (Montgomery) County Board of Elections, I will not certify the 2022 general election results.” Gale said.

Additionally, the county election board authorized the relocation of three polling places.

Lower Merion 6-2 moved from Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church to Black Rock Middle School, New Hanover 2 moved from the New Hanover Fire Company to New Hanover Lutheran Church and Pottstown 2-1 moved from Invictus Church to the Pottstown Elks Lodge, according to Dori Sawyer, Montgomery County’s director of elections.

Anyone with questions surrounding the 2022 general election can contact the Montgomery County Office of Voter Services by calling 610-278-3280 or visiting the office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The department is located on the sixth floor of One Montgomery Plaza, 425 Swede St., in Norristown.

During an April 25demonstration in Pottstown, potential voters fill out fake ballots as part of the effort to familiarize themselves with Montgomery County’s new voting machines which will be used for the first time during the May 21primary election.