Abigail Manbeck
News Editor
It has recently been brought to the attention of Pennsylvania mail-in voters that the ballots have been delayed. Many voters who will be voting via mail this election are concerned that their ballot has not arrived in the mail. Often in the past, ballots were sent out weeks before the election. This election is a bit different, as the state of Pennsylvania is waiting for the green light due to the Supreme Court needing to make some decisions. There is currently debate over if third-party candidates can be put on the ballot.
The Supreme Court has come to a decision recently, and it will take some time for the ballots to be tested, printed, and mailed. Depending on what each county in PA does, the process of sending out the ballots may go into the first week of October.
Counties in PA are now supposed to process applications 50 days before the election. This new law has many people curious and confused.
Lisa Schaefer, who is the Executive Director of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, states, “Pennsylvania has mail-in ballots, and every eligible voter can get one of those as soon as those ballots are available.” She adds, “Voters should not be concerned that they are not able to get those yet.”
PA residents who wish to receive a mail-in or absentee must apply by Oct. 29, which is a week before Election Day.
Once voting has started via mail and everyone receives their ballot, mail-in and absentee voters will have until 8 p.m. on Election Day, which is Nov. 5, to submit their completed ballot.