By: Bailey Thumm ’22, Staff Writer
The PA state legislature enacted Act 77 which authorized mail-in ballot voting on Oct. 31, 2019.
Act 77 was momentous for PA voters because it gave them the right to mail in their vote without having to give a reason. PA voters who wish to mail in their vote must apply for a ballot. This is a key distinguishing rule compared to other states who offer mail-in voting. This year the deadline to sign up for a mail-in ballot is Oct. 27 at 5 p.m.
Another significant rule for mail-in voting in PA is that voters must use the provided secrecy envelope. Otherwise, the vote will not count.
Voters who apply for a mail-in ballot will receive an email from their county board of election once the application is received. When voters get their ballot, they fill it out and put it in the provided secrecy envelope then place it inside the larger postage-paid envelope. Voters are able to track the progress of their mail-in ballot via votespa.com.
For college students, there is a comparison chart on votespa.com to tell them whether they qualify for a mail-in or absentee ballot.
Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3, and received by voters’ county election offices by 5 p.m. on Nov. 6 to be counted.