The McKean County Office of Elections is preparing for Tuesday’s general election, and this year’s voting is set to run smoothly with new machines.
“We work usually until the end of the week. Then, on Monday, the judges of elections come and pick up all of their supplies,” said Lisa Pratt, director of elections.
She also explained that there are no changes to precincts or polling locations this year.
While all precincts will be using new voting machines, Pratt feels confident that voters will not have trouble. A demonstration held to introduce voters to the new machines went really well, Pratt said.
She did note that for anyone with concerns, there is a voting machine in the elections’ office, and individuals can visit for a demonstration of how the machine works.
The sample ballots for each precinct are available online, and for those who do not have internet access, paper ballots are available for viewing in the elections’ office at the McKean County Courthouse as well.
For voters who hope to take a paper copy of their votes home, however, that is a no-go.
“The paper copy is intended to create a paper trail for the elections committee in case an audit is required,” Pratt explained. “That is why we were required to change machines.”
Polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. For first-time voters, be sure to find your polling place, make sure you have a photo ID ready to take with you on Tuesday (this can be a Pennsylvania driver’s license or PennDOT ID card, an ID issued by any Commonwealth agency, an ID issued by the U.S. Government, a U.S. passport, U.S. Armed Forces ID, a Student ID or an Employee ID) and plan your visit for a time most convenient for you between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
For those who have questions or concerns, the elections office can be reached at 887-3203.
“Our office is always here for calls if people have questions,” Pratt said. “The poll workers are also always willing to answer questions before you go into the voting booth, so voters are welcome to talk to poll workers about the machines before they go in to vote. Once you are back there, they can help verbally but they can not come back and help.”
There are also flyers at the elections office to help with information on voting.
