So, you’re a procrastinator?

That mail ballot has been sitting on your kitchen table since you received it weeks ago. Now, with only days remaining before the election on November 7, what do you do?

You’ve come to the right place, as PoliticsPA has an in-house elections expert to help you make sure that your ballot counts.

The Ballot

The first thing you will notice when you prepare your ballot is that it is no different than a ballot you would receive if you were voting at your local polling place. Here is an example from LeBoeuf Township in Erie County.

The Instructions

These are more important than you might think. If you want your vote to count, blacken the oval to the right of the candidate of your choice. Do not put a check mark “√” or an “x”, as the optical scanner may not read your votes properly. Do not use any colored pen other than black.

If you wish to write in a name for a position, color in the oval and write the name. Be forewarned – election officials hate when you write in “Donald Duck” or “Mickey Mouse.” I beg of you, please don’t do this. We don’t laugh when counting.

Your ballot most likely will be two-sided with more races on the reverse side. Don’t forget to look.

If You Make a Mistake

You voted for two when it called for one … or you voted with that dreaded “X” instead of coloring in the circle. What do you do know?

Welp, it’s off to the polling place on Tuesday for you.

Bring all materials that you received in the mail, including the ballot with the mistake. Tell the judge of election of your mistake – it won’t be held against you – and you should receive a new ballot to complete onsite.

Don’t know where your polling place is located? We’ve got you covered.

I’ve Completed Voting. Now What?

Congratulations. You’re almost home. Well, actually you are at home, but you know what I mean.

Fold the completed ballot and place it in the yellow security envelope. I cannot stress enough how important this is. Without that secrecy envelope, your votes most likely will not be counted. That’s the law.

Then place the security envelope in the return envelope. Again, notice the instructions.

(1) You must sign and date the voter’s declaration
(2) You must seal your ballot inside the secrecy envelope

The Most Important Thing You’ll Do All Day

Sign the outer envelope. Please. And put the date you complete the ballot on the envelope.

DO NOT write anything else on any envelope.

Seal the outer envelope.

Some counties will allow you to open the envelope once sealed. One county that I’m aware of allowed voters to re-seal the outer envelope using scotch tape if they initialed and dated the tape as well.

If you are unsure, take everything to your polling place. You will have to vote there.

Returning Your Ballot

I am writing this on Thursday – five days prior to the election. Although we love the Postal Service and are champions of their service, you may want to hand deliver to your county’s Election Office to ensure that your vote arrives and is counted on Tuesday.

If you drop the ballot in the mail … and it does not arrive at the election office by 8 PM on Tuesday … your vote WILL NOT COUNT. A postmark prior to Election Day DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING.

All mail ballots must be in the Election Office by 8 PM on Tuesday.

My Ballot Is Complete and Returned. Now What?

Congratulations. You’ve done your civic duty. Sit back, relax, and see how your choices did on Election Night.