Early voting, ballot drop boxes and more: What to know before the May 18 primary election
The May primary election is weeks away.
With county, municipal and school board seats on the ballot, there are also a few ways to vote. Here’s what voters casting their ballot by mail or at the polls should know ahead of May 18:
Who can vote in a primary election?
In a primary election, each political party chooses its candidates to run for office during the general election. The candidates who receive the highest number of votes in the primary will run in the general election.
In Pennsylvania, voters can only vote for candidates in their political party. For instance, a registered member of the Republican Party may only vote in the Republican primary.
All voters can vote on constitutional amendments, ballot questions and any special election contests held at the same time as a primary election. Three proposed constitutional amendments will appear on the May 18 primary ballot for ratification; two surround the governor’s emergency disaster declarations. The third asks if the Constitution should be amended to include a new section providing equality of rights regardless of an individual’s race or ethnicity.
How do I register to vote?
The deadline to register to vote in the May 18 primary election has passed, but citizens have until Oct. 18 to register before the November general.
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.
To check or make updates to your voter registration, visit votespa.com.
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 May 11.
How do I apply for a mail-in ballot?
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. Voters may also sign up to be an annual mail-in ballot voter and automatically receive ballots by mail for the rest of the calendar year.
County election offices are responsible for maintaining an annual list of mail-in and absentee voters. If you are an annual mail-in or absentee voter, you should automatically receive a renewal application by the first Monday in February each year.
If you do not return the renewal application, a ballot will not be sent to you. However, you will be sent a new packet the following year that will ask if you would like to continue receiving mail-in or absentee ballots.
Voters can request to be added to this list at any time by visiting pavoterservices.pa.gov; cancellations can also be made online.
If you move, contact your local elections office to ensure your ballot will be sent to the new address, but if you move to a different county in Pennsylvania, you will need to update your registration online.
Can I vote early?
The Centre County Board of Elections announced an appointment scheduling tool, so registered voters can apply for and receive their mail-in or absentee ballot in person.
Voters who have not yet requested a ballot are asked to visit centrecountyvotes.com/earlyvoting to sign up for an appointment at the Willowbank Building, 420 Holmes St. in Bellefonte. On the website, they will be asked to confirm that they are registered to vote in Centre County, schedule an appointment and complete and print their ballot application.
The elections office will be open for early voting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and May 10-May 11.
Voters will enter the office through the door on the far-right side of the Willowbank; temporary, free parking is available.
Once their application is processed, voters will receive a ballot, secrecy envelope, return envelope and instruction sheet on how to return the ballot.
How do I return my mail-in ballot?
Ballots must be returned to the county elections office or a drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Under Pennsylvania law, voters must return their own ballots unless an exemption is granted for those with a disability who have designated someone in writing to deliver their ballot.
Centre County has eight secure ballot drop boxes stationed throughout the county. The boxes are monitored by video surveillance and include structural security measures to prevent tampering.
Ballot drop boxes may be found at the following locations:
Voters may hand-deliver their ballot to the main entrance of the Willowbank, Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Though postage is required, ballots may also be returned by mail.
When do polls open on Election Day?
Polling places will be open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. on Election Day. A voter must be in line by 8 p.m. in order to vote.
How do I find my polling place?
To find your polling place to vote in person, visit centrecountyvotes.com or call the Centre County elections office at 814-355-6703. If a change was made to a precinct, voters should have received an official notice.
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.
Who can be inside voting precincts?
The following people 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 877-868-3772.
Who should I call with questions?
For questions regarding registration, ballot applications or the general election, contact the Centre County Office of Elections and Voter Registration at 814-355-6703 or elections@centrecountypa.gov; voters may also visit centrecountyvotes.com.
This story was originally published May 9, 2021 at 7:00 AM.
