With a statewide stay-at-home order in effect through April 30, it goes without saying that changes had to be made regarding the April 28 primary election.
Recently, Gov. Tom Wolf signed Senate Bill 422, which reschedules the election to June 2. On this date, Republican Andy Meehan will take on incumbent Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick in the 1st District, with Skylar Hurwitz and Christina Finello on the Democratic ballot.
“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,” Wolf said. “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.”
During a virtual news conference, Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar outlined additional election process changes.
“Counties can now begin processing and tabulating mail-in ballots and absentee ballots beginning at 7 a.m. on election day, instead of having to wait until the polls close at 8 p.m. This should greatly assist counties in providing timely election results,” Boockvar said. “Additionally, the measure allows counties to temporarily consolidate polling places, and ease other rules regarding location of polling places and filling the poll worker positions that are so critically needed for the primary.”
This is the first election where voters are not required to visit a polling place to cast their vote.
“Every Pennsylvanian can apply for a mail-in ballot for any reason or no reason at all. You no longer have to have an excuse,” Boockvar said. “It’s so quick and easy.”
To apply, visit votespa.com. For those who wish to receive notifications about when their application is received and approved, when the ballot is mailed to them, and when the ballot is received once it’s filled out, simply provide an email address.
“It takes all of the guessing out of the process,” Boockvar said. “And if you’ve already applied for an absentee or mail-in ballot, there’s no need to do it again. The ballot that you’ve already applied for will be updated, despite the change in the primary date.”
Also for the first time, individuals no longer have to reside in a district to work the polls there. They just need to live somewhere in the county.
“It allows counties to be more flexible with finding poll workers,” Boockvar said. “Those from one location in the county can work in another location in the county.”
Additionally, Senate Bill 422 allows counties to temporarily consolidate polling places without court approval. This is to help relocate polling places that were historically at senior centers, assisted living facilities and locations that are home to vulnerable populations.
“They can have more than one precinct in a polling location and, in addition, we opened up some locations that are usually not permitted. For example, some places like VFW halls and Moose Lodges, many of them have not been able to be locations because they have served alcohol at times for certain events,” Boockvar said. “This legislation changes that so that those locations, which are often really good choices because they have large, accommodating facilities, can now be used by the counties.”
When asked if the election may need to be moved a second time, Boockvar said the department is monitoring the COVID-19 situation every day.
“None of us want to be in the position Ohio was in, where they were deciding literally the night before the election whether or not they were going to hold the election the next day. So, in Pennsylvania, we’ve been very much focused on preparation and planning in advance,” she said.
In Boockvar’s opinion, the full availability of mail-in ballots as well as implementing social distancing and sanitizing initiatives at the polls will result in the election taking place June 2 as scheduled.
Despite a spike in mail-in ballots, Boockvar said the majority of districts, aside from those with tight races, should see final results on election night. Boockvar listed steps that can be taken to speed up the process.
“The voter’s name and signature is on the outside of the outer envelope, so eligibility of the voter can be checked in advance. The names of people who submitted their ballots can be provided to party watchers and poll workers in advance so that there can be notifications if there’s going to be any challenges and so forth,” she said. “All of that can happen before election day, and then the actual opening of the envelopes and scanning and canvassing of the actual ballots can start at 7 a.m. on election day.”
The last day to register to vote is May 18. The deadline to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot is May 26, and ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on June 2. Voters can apply online at votespa.com, or print out a PDF from the website, which is computer- and mobile-friendly.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
