Deadlines approaching to register to vote, request mail-in ballots
There is less than one week to register to vote in the Nov. 3 mid-term election, while elections directors from across the region are urging people to apply for mail-in ballots now so they can return them as soon as possible.
Monday is the final day to register or make other changes, and Oct. 27 is the last day to request a mail-in ballot.
So far, 16,671 voters have requested mail-in ballots in Washington County as the elections office began sending them out Oct. 2. Of those requests, 11,001 have come from Democrats, 4,233 from Republicans and 1,437 from independent or non-affiliated voters.
“I wouldn’t wait until the 27th to apply,” Washington County Elections Director Melanie Ostrander said. “If you know you want a mail-in, I would apply soon to ensure you have your ballot and return it timely for the election.”
She said her office will begin offering “counter voting” today where people can come into the elections office and request a mail-in ballot that they can fill out immediately and return to the staff on the spot. Ostrander said the number of mail-in ballot requests so far is less than she was anticipating for the hotly contested mid-term elections.
“I anticipated a higher volume as far as inquiries and ballot requests than what we’re seeing,” Ostrander said. “So hopefully people are planning to vote in person.”
Fayette County Elections Director MaryBeth Kuznik said her office began sending out mail-in ballots last Tuesday as they ramp up for the election. She said they have sent out 7,758 ballots as of Thursday afternoon, with 5,439 requests from Democrats, 1,895 going to Republicans and 424 sent to independent or non-affiliated voters.
“We urge people to get it done as soon as possible,” Kuznik said of requesting a mail-in ballot. “They should do it right away. Now is the time.”
Her office is also currently offering “counter voting” and will continue to do so until the end of business on Oct. 27 when the window for requesting a mail-in ballot closes.
“People should make their voices heard,” Kuznik said.
In Greene County, there have been 1,935 ballot requests as of Friday afternoon, with 1,310 going to Democrats, 536 to Republicans and 89 for independent or non-affiliated voters, according to Commission Chairman Jared Edgreen, who also chairs the county’s elections board.
Voters can go to vote.pa.gov to register or request a mail-in ballot, or go to their local elections office before the deadlines. Mail-in ballots must be returned to a voter’s local county elections office no later than 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.