Deadline approaching to request Pa. mail-in ballot

Al Schmidt also addressed election security issues during Wednesday’s online weekly briefing.

With the Nov. 3 general election approaching, Mon Valley voters planning to vote by mail have less than a month to request a ballot.

Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said Wednesday that voters have until 5 p.m. Oct. 27 to apply for a mail ballot, though he encouraged them not to wait until the deadline.

Schmidt offered the reminder during the fourth in a series of weekly briefings aimed at providing voters with updated election information leading up to Election Day.

During Wednesday’s virtual briefing, Schmidt also outlined Pennsylvania’s election security measures and preparations being made by state and county officials.

“The goal of these briefings, as always, is to ensure Pennsylvanians have access to accurate and up-todate election information,” Schmidt said.

He said the Department of State continuously monitors election-related issues and potential threats and remains in regular communication with local election officials, Pennsylvania State Police, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and other state agencies.

The department also conducts tabletop exercises with its partners ahead of elections to prepare for potential issues before, during and after Election Day.

“Thousands of state and local election officials, Democrats, Republicans and others, work together to make sure Pennsylvania’s elections are free, fair, safe and secure,” Schmidt said.

According to Schmidt, the state uses several layers of cybersecurity to protect its voting infrastructure, including around-the-clock network monitoring, firewalls and encryption.

He stressed that voting systems used in Pennsylvania are not connected to internet-facing networks.

Counties are also conducting logic and accuracy testing of voting systems ahead of Election Day to ensure ballots are properly marked and counted.

Every vote in Pennsylvania is cast on a voter-verifiable paper ballot, Schmidt said, and ballots are subject to two audits after each election.

Schmidt also addressed questions about the possible presence of federal agents at polling places, saying state and federal laws strictly limit military and law enforcement presence at the polls and prohibit voter intimidation.

Under Pennsylvania’s Election Code, police officers generally may not be within 100 feet of a polling place unless they are voting, serving a warrant or responding to a disturbance. Members of the military are also prohibited from being present at polling places unless they are there to vote.

Schmidt encouraged election officials, candidates, poll workers and voters to immediately report threats of violence to law enforcement.

Voters can also report suspected voter intimidation, election fraud or other election crimes to the Department of State at 1-877-VOTESPA or through the state’s voter services website.

More than 1.08 million mail ballots had been requested by Pennsylvania voters as of Wednesday morning, Schmidt said.

More than 30 counties have already begun mailing ballots, and Schmidt said the percentage of ballots returned so far is higher than it was at the same point ahead of the 2022 midterm general election.

Voters who receive mail ballots are encouraged to complete and return them as soon as possible.

Ballots can be returned by mail, in person at a county election office during regular business hours or at a county drop box where available.

“Voting by mail is a convenient, safe and secure option for eligible Pennsylvanians,” Schmidt said. “And even though the deadline is several weeks away, those who prefer to vote by mail should apply today to ensure they have time to receive, mark and return their ballot by Election Day.”

Mail ballot applications must be received by a voter’s county elections board by 5 p.m. Oct. 27.

Completed mail ballots must be received by the county Board of Elections by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.

Schmidt also addressed a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision involving changes to the Department of Homeland Security’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, system.

He said the ruling does not change how elections are administered in Pennsylvania.

County election officials will continue processing voter registration applications in accordance with existing state and federal laws, Schmidt said.

Pennsylvanians who have not yet registered to vote also have another deadline approaching.

The deadline to register for the Nov. 3 general election is Oct. 19.

Voters can register online or through their county election office. Already registered voters can also update their registration information if needed.

Additional information about registering to vote, requesting or returning a mail ballot, finding ballot return locations and election security is available at vote.pa.gov.

Schmidt will return Oct. 7 for his fifth weekly pre-election briefing, with another briefing scheduled for Oct. 14.