To add to the already calamitous year 2020 has been, there is an impending general election that has been causing widespread panic and demand for action. With numerous applications for mail-in ballots seeking approval, there are many deadlines to keep in mind. Consequently, there is an urgency to spread knowledge of the candidates running in this race. If issues like climate change, healthcare, immigration, and economic inequality are of interest for you, it is crucial that you vote for candidates whose values coincide with yours. Keep on reading to find out how you can authorize your voting status and make your ballot official!
To register to vote in Pennsylvania and have your political voice heard, you can register at
https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx
If you do not have a PennDOT ID number, then you may not have your application processed online, and will have to print out a voter registration application. You will send this form to your local county voter registration office! You can find the physical form at this link:
https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/documents/VoterApplication_English.pdf
The deadline to register to vote is October 19th, so there is not much time to register, and processing times are increasingly being delayed because of the pandemic. If you are not registered, please register ASAP!
If you want to check your voter registration status in Pennsylvania and want to ensure that you are registered in the right county and/or find a physical polling place, find out at this link:
https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/voterregistrationstatus.aspx
Even if you are confident that you are registered to vote, it is imperative that you check your registration status, as many people across the country have reported to find out that they are not registered, or their status unexpectedly changed. Sounds like shady business, but you want to make sure you are covered.
Finally, because of COVID safety guidelines, it is highly encouraged that you vote by mail-in ballot. In some states such as Rhode Island, Washington, and Colorado, mail in ballots are universal. However, most states require absentee mail-in-ballots, meaning you must request a mail-in-ballot ahead of time and fill out an application, Pennsylvania being one of them. Although many opposers of mail-in-ballots assert that there is voter fraud within this system, there is virtually no evidence that supports that statement. There are several anti-fraud protections built into the voting system, one of them being that you could face fines or prison time for fraud.
To apply for mail in ballot, you can fill out the application online for PA:
https://www.votespa.com/Voting-in-PA/Pages/Mail-and-Absentee-Ballot.aspx
Once again, if you do not have a PennDot number, find the PDF file to send to your local county voter registration office at:
https://www.votespa.com/Register-to-Vote/Documents/PADOS_mailInapplication.pdf
You MUST request your absentee/mail-in-ballot by October 27th, but I HIGHLY suggest that you request NOW if you haven’t already. My application was sent over a month ago and it was only just processed!
To check on your election ballot status (when your mail-in/absentee application was received, or when your ballot is received), check out this link!
https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/pages/ballottracking.aspx
Finally, postmark your ballot by election day, November 3rd to make your vote count!