State shares vital for primary voters

Polls will be open today from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

By the MVI

Secretary of the Commonwealth A1 Schmidt encourages Pennsylvanians planning to vote at the polls in today’s primary election to review the comprehensive voter information at vote.pa.gov.

“As always, the Department of State wants to ensure that voters can make their voices heard and cast their ballots safely and securely,” Schmidt said. “We want every voter to be informed about how to exercise their right to vote.”

A few reminders for Pennsylvanians ahead of today’s primary election:

• Polls will be open across the commonwealth from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Any voter in line by 8 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot. Voters can find their polling place at vote.pa.gov.

• All completed mail ballots must be returned to county elections boards by 8 p.m. in order to be counted.

Pennsylvanians should also be aware of their rights at the polls, including:

• If a voter requested a mail ballot but decides to vote in person instead, they can surrender their mail ballot materials, including the outer envelope, at their polling place and vote there. If the voter no longer has their mail ballot, or never received the one they applied for, they can vote by provisional ballot at their polling place.

• First-time voters, or those voting for the first time in a new precinct, must show identification. Acceptable options include both photo and non-photo ID.

• If a voter’s name is not in the poll book, poll workers can call the county board of elections to see if the voter is listed in another precinct in the county. A registered voter who is in the wrong polling place should go to the correct polling place; however, a voter who believes they are registered in that precinct and should be listed in that poll book may vote there by provisional ballot.

• Voters who moved within Pennsylvania but did not update their address before the election may vote a final time in their previous precinct, as long as they update their address at the polling place.

• Voters who have been told by their county that their mail ballot may not be counted due to an error — such as a missing signature or secrecy envelope — may vote by provisional ballot at their polling place.

• In a sudden situation such as unexpected illness, disability or last-minute absence from their municipality, voters can request an emergency absentee ballot. The deadline to submit that application and ballot to their county elections office is 8 p.m. on Election Day.

• Voters have the right to assistance at the polling place, including language or literacy assistance. A voter may select any person to assist as long as the person is not their employer, union representative or the polling place’s Judge of Elections. A voter also has the right to privacy at the polling place.

• Voters have the right to vote without being subjected to intimidation, harassment, or discriminatory conduct. A voter who experiences any of the above should report it to their county board of elections or their district attorney’s office. They can also call the Department of State’s year-round voter hotline at 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877868-3772).

Because Pennsylvania has a closed primary, only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote for their party’s nominees in the primary election. However, all voters can vote on any of the following if they also appear on their county’s ballot: A constitutional amendment question, ballot question, or a special election in their district.

Unofficial results from the commonwealth’s 67 counties will be posted as they become available on the Department of State’s election night returns site, electionreturns .pa.gov, after the polls close at 8 p.m. That site provides totals and county-by-county breakdowns for statewide contests.

The department’s voter information website, vote. pa.gov, is available in English, Spanish and Chinese and offers a polling place locator and contact information for county elections offices. It also includes tips for first-time voters, mailin and absentee voters, elderly and disabled voters and members of the military.