Pennsylvania voters now have the option to vote by mail.
Act 77 Election Reforms were passed by the Pennsylvania State Legislature and signed by Governor Wolf in October 2019 allowing voters to cast their ballot by mail without an excuse. Click here for more information on Act 77 Reforms.
If you cannot make it to your poll on election day, apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot to ensure that your voice is heard.
Safeguards for Voting by Mail:
- The voter’s signature on the outside of the ballot envelope must match the signature on the voter’s registration record. This is the same process used at the voting polls when signing the book to verify your identity.
- Mail-in ballots envelopes have a unique bar code specific to the voter.
- Voters must return their ballot in person or by mail. Third parties are not allowed to collect them from voters and return them, a term known as ballot harvesting.
- County Board of Elections Offices must establish chain of custody procedures to account for all steps in the process of receiving, moving and processing the mail-in ballots.They are responsible for the physical security of the storage locations for the ballots.
- All mail-in ballots are delivered to the County Board of Elections office where they are centrally kept, processed and counted. They are not sent to the individual polling districts.
- Tracking of the mail-in ballots is available through access to public records, a link can be found above. Tracking notices are available via email when you apply for a ballot online.
- The Republican Party and candidates can appoint watchers to watch the counting process of mail-in voting. The central counting of ballots enables watcher positions to be fully staffed.
If you have additional questions on the safeguards for mail-in voting, please call our office at (717) 392-4165
3Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: How do I request a mail-in ballot?
A: You can request a mail-in ballot online or by paper application, click here for more information.
Q: Will they send me the ballot when I request it?
A: You have to complete and submit the application, then the Lancaster County Board of Elections will issue you a ballot.
Q: When can I return my ballot?
A: You can return your ballot as soon as you complete it, the deadline to submit is Tuesday, May 9th at 8:00 p.m. However we recommend completing and returning ASAP to ensure your ballot.
Q: How do I sign my ballot to return it?
A: Your signature must match your signature on record at the county board of elections. If you make a mistake please call the County Board of Elections to see how you can make a correction. (717) 299-8293
Q: I received the wrong precinct/party ballot, what should I do?
A: Call the county board of elections to have the correct one issued to you (717) 299-8293
Q: Where do I mail my ballot?
A: Ballots must be returned to the Lancaster County Board of Elections, P.O. Box 2139, Lancaster, PA 17608. Please follow the directions included in your ballot.
For additional questions, call the Republican Committee of Lancaster County (717) 392-4165