HARRISBURG, Pa. – Yesterday Secretary of State Pedro A. Cortés reminded voters that requests for absentee ballots must be completed, signed, and received by their county board of elections no later than 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 19.
“As everyone knows, we have a very important primary election coming up on April 26,” Cortés said. “Absentee balloting gives eligible Pennsylvanians who are unable to go to the polls on Election Day the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.”
Absentee ballots may be cast by deployed members of the military, Pennsylvania students attending out-of-state colleges or universities, individuals with illnesses or disabilities, and individuals who will be away from their municipality on business on Election Day. Comprehensive information about absentee ballots, including a downloadable request form, can be found at the Department of State’s website votesPA.com.
Applicants will be asked to supply basic voter registration information and to specify a reason for applying to vote absentee.
Although the deadline to apply is April 19, Cortés encouraged citizens who must vote by absentee ballot to submit their requests as early as possible.
“Completed absentee ballots must be received by county election offices no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, April 22,” Cortés explained. “Due to recent cutbacks in service by the U.S. Postal Service, anyone who is planning to mail their absentee ballot risks missing that deadline.”
Voters may also deliver their own absentee ballots in person to county election offices.
Pennsylvanians applying for an absentee ballot must provide their driver’s license or PennDOT ID number. If they do not have a driver’s license or PennDOT ID, they must give the last four digits of their Social Security number. If a voter has neither, he or she must present a copy of an acceptable photo ID. A list of approved alternative types of identification is available at votesPA.com.
An absentee voter can designate someone else to deliver the absentee application and ballot if he or she is physically unable to do so. Certification of Designated Agent forms are also available online.
For additional information, call 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772) or visit www.votesPA.com.
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