On Thursday, Gov. Tom Wolf urged the legislature to quickly pass his plan for safe and secure elections that ensures voters will receive mail-in ballots early, have time to return them, and that counties will have the time they need to quickly count the anticipated historic number of votes cast.
The governor also reminded voters that the best way to make sure their vote is counted is to sign up now for a mail-in ballot and return it well before the Nov. 3 election.
“My administration continues to have great confidence in the state’s election system,” said Wolf. “Regardless of whether you cast your vote from the convenience of home with a mail-in ballot, or in person on election day, my administration has worked hard to ensure that every person has their voice heard and every vote is counted. These proposed reforms will further strengthen our elections, help people to vote safely from home, and assist counties in processing the surge in mail-in ballots.”
In a joint statement, Senate Republican leadership President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway, and Jake Corman, R-Bellefonte, said what Wolf has proposed is similar to a Senate bill.
“The majority of the election reforms the governor outlined (Thursday) during his press conference were contained in Senate Bill 10 that we introduced on Monday to ensure fair elections,” the statement read. “With that legislation we are trying to safeguard that every voter has the opportunity to vote, has confidence in the system and receives results in a timely manner.”
The two noted there are differences in the proposals.
“Our proposal to increase election access, accountability and security goes further than the governor’s plan,” the senators stated. “We look forward to working with him to fulfill the legislative responsibility to ensure fair elections and trust in the election process.”
The primary in June was the first time that voters could use mail-in ballots after the historic, bipartisan Act 77 of 2019 signed into law by Wolf last fall. Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly embraced mail-in voting with nearly 1.5 million voters casting a mail-in or absentee ballot, more than half of all votes cast. Despite the record increase in mail-in ballots, and pandemic-related challenges, the primary was administered smoothly with few disruptions.
The Department of State and counties are using experiences from the primary to make improvements for the general election. Many counties, which administer Pennsylvania’s elections, are preparing for millions of mail-in ballots by increasing the use of high-speed scanners and other technology to quicken ballot canvassing and vote counting.
Wolf also called for the legislature to allow counties to start pre-canvassing ballots 21 days before the election, rather than 7 a.m. on election day, to make vote-counting faster; allowing counties to count eligible ballots postmarked by election day and received by the Friday following election day to ensure that all ballots mailed by the deadline are counted; requiring counties to start sending mail-in ballots at least 28 days before the election rather than 14 days as currently required; and providing counties flexibility to appoint poll workers to vacant positions earlier than five days before an election.
Eligible voters may apply for their mail-in or absentee ballot online at votespa.com, in person at their county election offices, or by paper forms submitted by mail. Once the county determines the voter is eligible, counties will send the voter a ballot with return postage paid by the Department of State, so casting a ballot is free to voters. Voters have several convenient options to return their ballot by mail, in person at their county election office or at drop boxes, which many counties expect to provide.
