PLANNING AHEAD: It’s Pennsylvania election time — how to do it right

Tuesday, Nov. 7 is the date for general elections in Pennsylvania. Some local and county officials, school boards and several judges including statewide judicial races are on the ballot. If you have reached this date and have not voted by mail yet, you might have some concern whether the mail to your local Voter Services/Board of Elections would definitely be received in time. Here are some tips.

Mail In Ballots/Ballot Boxes and Other Considerations. Considering that it is less than a week until all ballots need to be received and also considering some concerns with the U.S. mail, it might be helpful — assuming you are intending to vote by mail and you have not already voted — to bring your completed ballot to a nearby ballot box if your county has ballot boxes.  There you can deposit it in person.

It is important to note that you cannot have someone else — no matter who that person is — deliver your ballot to a ballot box. Unless you are disabled within the meaning of the Americans With Disabilities Act you must do it yourself. In that case you need to complete a form authorizing a designated agent to act for you. Even in that case if you can, it is probably best to do it yourself.

The expression “mail-in ballots” is a broad term and also describes ballots which you received from your Voter Services office and you hand deliver personally either to Voter Services/Board of Elections office in your county or to an in person ballot box. Locations and available dates and times for your county would be posted on the Internet.

At this point, counties throughout Pennsylvania have already mailed their mail-in ballots for those voters who have requested them. At any time if you want to check the status of your ballot, visit www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/pages/BallotTracking.aspx. This continues the process through receipt so you can track the status of your mail-in ballot.

The Voting Process For Mail In Ballots. If you have received your mail-in ballot, then here, in simple terms, is what to do.

• First, open the envelope you received and remove the ballot and the two enclosed envelopes. One will be the return envelope pre-addressed to Voter Services/Board of Elections (the “return” envelope) and does not require postage. The second (the “secrecy” envelope) states “OFFICIAL ELECTION BALLOT” It will contain your completed ballot for return.

Note: Do not write or put an markings on the secrecy envelope. This is important.

• Second, review the ballot and fill in the circles beside your choices in black or blue ink.  Put it aside.

• Third, sign and date the back of the “return” envelope. The signature and name should match the name also pre-printed on the back of the return envelope. You can check. Signing and dating the return envelope is important. One issue raised that found its way to the U.S. Supreme Court was whether undated return envelopes would be accepted. It is important to be sure. There is also space for your return address on the front.

• Next, place your voted ballot inside the “secrecy” envelope and seal the “secrecy” envelope.

• Finally, place the sealed “secrecy” envelope inside the “return” envelope and, with the “secrecy” envelope enclosed, seal the “return” envelope.

How to return the ballot. The difference between a mail-in ballot and an absentee ballot is inconsequential now. Absentee ballots used to, but no longer, require an excuse not to be present in the jurisdiction on Election Day. On receipt, the receipt of your ballot will be noted on the tracking website previously indicated above. Mail-In ballots are not officially counted until Election Day.

Voting At the Polls on Election Day. If you are voting in person at the polls, you want to be sure of the current location. Polling places can sometimes change. If you may have recently moved you want to know where you should go. Have you changed your address for voting purposes? Your polling place will have a Judge of Elections and workers who can help. You might receive a provisional ballot where there are questions. Also, if you requested a mail-in ballot but did not complete it bring the entire packet with you to the polls and you will receive instructions.

With all that said, you should be fine. Voting matters.

Janet Colliton, Esq. is a Certified Elder Law Attorney approved as a specialty under the American Bar Association and the Pa. Supreme Court and limits her practice to elder law, retirement, life care, special needs, guardianships and estate planning and estate administration with offices at 790 East Market St., Ste. 250, West Chester, 610-436-6674, colliton@collitonlaw.com. She is a member of the National Academy and Pennsylvania Association of Elder Law Attorneys and, with Jeffrey Jones, CSA, co-founder of Life Transition Services LLC, a service for families with long term care needs.