Here’s what to know about casting your vote — in-person, by mail or absentee — in Centre County
The November general election is 10 weeks away.
In preparation, officials are working to ensure poll workers and voters are well-prepared for the election — scheduled for Nov. 3 — amid the COVID-19 pandemic and despite controversy and questions surrounding the United States Postal Service.
Out of 108,871 total registered voters in Centre County, the Elections and Voter Registration Office has received about 20,000 vote-by-mail applications, according to Commissioner Michael Pipe. Local elections staff has processed 14,431 of those applications, according to Director Joyce McKinley.
Though still awaiting some guidance from the state, Centre County has taken extra steps to ensure Election Day runs smoothly by purchasing equipment to assist in counting ballots in addition to recruiting volunteers to work in precincts or in the elections office. In the coming weeks, Pipe said the county plans to publish a Q-and-A on its website to ensure voters receive accurate and up-to-date information prior to voting.
With an Oct. 19 deadline to register to vote and an Oct. 27 cutoff to apply for a mail-in ballot, here’s what you need to know before Election Day:
How do I register to vote?
There are four ways to register to vote in Pennsylvania — online, by U.S. mail, in-person or at a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation photo or driver’s license center.
To register online, visit register.votesPA.com, where you will be asked to complete a voter registration application form.
Before you begin, make sure to have your Pennsylvania driver’s license or PennDOT ID card on hand. If you do not have one, you may upload a signature or print and sign the form.
Pennsylvanians may download the Pennsylvania Voter Registration Application online to register by mail.
To complete the application, print the form, fill it in, sign it and send it to your county voter registration office.
Voter registration can also be completed in-person at your county voter registration office or at some government agencies, such as a PennDOT Photo License and Driver’s License Center.
The voter application can also be completed at many state government offices, including:
- State offices that provide public assistance and services to people with disabilities
- Armed forces recruitment centers
- County Clerk of Orphans’ Court offices, including each Marriage License Bureau
- Area agencies on aging
- Centers for independent living
- County mental health offices
- Student disability services offices of the State System of Higher Education
- Offices of special education
- ADA complementary paratransit offices
- Any agency using the Compass application
Once you submit your application, it will be sent to your local voter registration office for review and processing.
If your voter registration card does not come in the mail within 14 days of submission, contact your county voter registration office.
The last day to register to vote before the November election is Oct. 19.
What is the difference between an absentee and mail-in ballot?
In Pennsylvania, there are two ballot options to vote by mail — mail-in or absentee ballot.
Any qualified voter may apply for a mail-in ballot without a reason. Absentee ballots are available to those who will be out of their local municipality on Election Day or those who have a disability or illness that prevents them from voting in-person.
In order to request either type of ballot, you must be registered to vote.
Applications must be received by your county election office by 5 p.m. on Oct. 27.
Is voting by mail safe?
Despite claims that voting by mail increases fraud, elections experts say fraud in mail balloting is unlikely.
In an op-ed for The Hill, Amber McReynolds, CEO of the National Vote at Home Institute, and Charles Stewart, director of the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, said that of the more than 250 million ballots that have been cast by mail over the past 20 years, there have been 143 criminal convictions for election fraud related to mail ballots. Based on those calculations, that averages out to about one case per state every six or seven years — a fraud rate of 0.00006%.
Pennsylvania and Centre County officials have also taken additional steps — including appointing “poll watchers” and seeking additional Election Day volunteers — to ensure the general election is secure whether ballots are cast in-person or by absentee.
How do I apply for a mail-in ballot?
Beginning 50 days before an election, any registered voter may request a mail-in ballot either online, by mail or in-person at their local elections office.
Applications are available at votespa.com, and if yours is accepted, you will receive a mail-in ballot with instructions from your county election office.
When should I expect to receive my mail-in ballot?
Printing and mailing ballots is dependent on approval from the Pennsylvania Department of State, Pipe said.
“Historically speaking, that has occurred in late September, early October of a presidential year,” he said. “So, we’re hopeful that about 30-some days before the election, ballots will be ready to be printed and sent out to individuals.”
The county is asking voters who wish to vote by mail to request their ballots sooner rather than later.
How do I return my ballot when voting by mail?
Once your mail-in ballot has been completed and signed, place it in the secrecy envelope and then put the sealed secrecy envelope into the official envelope.
Make sure to sign the form or your ballot may not count.
Mail-in ballots may be returned via U.S. mail or taken directly to your local elections office. All ballots must be turned in by 8 p.m. on Election Day to your county election office.
The county’s singular ballot dropbox is located outside the main entrance to the Willowbank Building, 420 Holmes St. in Bellefonte. It is monitored by video 24 hours a day.
How do I know if my mail-in ballot has been counted?
Much like the application process, voters will receive an email confirmation to notify them that their ballot has been documented in the election results.
How to find my polling place?
To find your polling place to vote in-person, visit pavoterservices.pa.gov or call the Centre County elections office at 355-6703. If any changes to precincts are made due to the COVID-19 pandemic, voters will be notified.
Commissioner Steve Dershem said he expects some precincts will be consolidated due to the pandemic, but those locations will be announced prior to Election Day.
When do polls open on Election Day?
Polling places will be open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. on Election Day.
Do I need an ID to vote in person?
If you’ve voted at your polling place before, you do not need to bring an ID to cast your ballot. Those who are voting for the first time in their election district must show ID.
Acceptable IDs include:
- Driver’s license
- U.S. passport
- Military, student or employee ID
- Voter registration card
- Firearm permit
- Current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government check
- Any ID issued by the commonwealth or federal government
Any ID without a photo must have your address on it.
What if my name isn’t in the poll book?
If your name isn’t in the poll book, local election officials should call the county board of elections to determine if you are registered to vote.
If you are, you should be permitted to vote. If the county cannot find your name but you believe you are a registered voter and are omitted from the poll book, you can vote via a provisional ballot.
What is a provisional ballot?
A provisional ballot is a paper ballot given to voters who believe to be registered but whose names do not appear in the sign-in book at a polling place.
If you are a first-time voter who does not provide an ID at the polls on Election Day, you will be offered a provisional ballot.
Who can be inside voting precincts?
The following individuals are permitted inside or within 10 feet of the entrance to a precinct while voting is in progress:
- Precinct election officials
- Polling place clerks
- Machine inspectors
- Approved poll watchers
- No more than 10 people in the process of voting
- Approved people assisting voters
- Police officers in the act of voting or who have been called to the polling place to preserve the peace.
What if I am intimidated at the polls?
It is illegal for any person or company to intimidate or coerce voters in Pennsylvania. If you experience intimidation at the polls, call your District Attorney’s Office and notify your local board of elections.
Complaints may also be submitted to the Department of State online or by calling 1-877-868-3772.
Who to call with questions?
For questions regarding registration, ballot applications or the general election, contact the Centre County Office of Elections and Voter Registration at 355-6703 or elections@centrecountypa.gov.
