It’s getting Hotter for Election Officials across Pennsylvania as the April 28th Presidential Primary approaches.

A New State Election Law that allows, among other things, No-Excuse Mail-In Balloting 50 days before an Election, coupled with the introduction of New Voting Machines in 22 Counties, including Allegheny and Westmoreland, could Prove the Perfect Storm this Spring.

In Letters posted Friday, a Coalition of Civil Rights and Voting Integrity Groups voiced Concerns that some Pennsylvania Voters could be Disenfranchised if County Election Officials don’t act Quickly to Comply with Provisions of the New Law.

The New Law that Eliminated Straight-Ticket Voting changed the Deadline for Voter Registration from 30 to 15 days Prior to an Election and Requires Counties to establish a Permanent Mail-In and Absentee Ballot Roster.

Now, those who opt to be Placed on the Roster are to be Mailed Applications for Ballots by the First Monday in February every year. And those Mail-In Ballots are supposed to be Ready for Distribution March 9th, which is also the First Day Pennsylvania Voters may Cast Ballots for the April 28th Primary.

No-Excuse Mail-In Balloting Expands what was One of the Most Restrictive Absentee Ballot Laws in the Nation, including New York. Previously, only those too Sick to Access the Polls or those who would be Out of the Area on Election Day could Apply for a Mail-In Ballot.

There also are Provisions for Counties to Establish Remote Offices where Election Officials could Disburse and Accept Mail-In and Absentee Ballots. Whether that will happen and just how Local Election Officials will Notify Voters of All the Pending Changes remains Unclear.

In Westmoreland County, Elections Director, Beth Lechman, said her Office is Focusing on Programming the New $7.1 Million Touch Screen/Scanner Voting system. Before the April Primary will be a March 17th Special Election to Fill the Vacant Seat of Former State Rep. Justin Walsh, who is now a Common Pleas Court Judge. Voters will Cast Ballots on a Touch-Screen Machine that Creates a Paper Ballot that is then Fed into an Electronic Scanner.

Lechman said Officials will begin Focusing on the Provisions of the New Law this week. “We’re just learning how to program the new equipment now,” Lechman said.

In Allegheny County, where Voters at 900 Polls will Mark Paper Ballots and Feed them into a Scanner, the Board of Elections is Scheduled to meet Feb. 11th to Discuss its Plans.

A Coalition, including All Voting is Local, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law, the ACLU of Pennsylvania, Protect Democracy, and the Campaign Legal Center, offered to Assist County Election Officials in Eight of the State’s Largest Counties, including Allegheny and Philadelphia, with Messaging.

They suggested Local Officials Notify Voters of New Deadlines before April 1st, including by Phone, Text, Email, and USPS Mail; Publicize the New Registrations Deadline through Public Service Announcements; and Work with Voting Rights Groups to Ensure that Election Officials receive Voter Registration Applications as soon as possible.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker