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If you are heading to the polls on Election Day to cast your vote in person, you’ll encounter different people. Know who they are and what’s allowed and isn’t allowed at the polls.
A little more than 9 million Pennsylvanians are registered to vote. Of those, about 2.2 million have requested a mail-in ballot. That means that around 6.8 million voters could be heading to the polls on Election Day.
If you plan to vote in-person this year, there are some things you should know not only about your rights, but the people you might encounter at your polling place.
Who you might see
The first people you might see are staffers or volunteers who represent either a specific candidate or an organization. They’re pretty easy to spot if they’re wearing clothing and accessories for that candidate or organization. Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt, who oversees the state’s elections, said They must stay at least 10 feet away from the front door of the polling location.
Inside the polling place, Schmidt said, you will see people working in nonpartisan positions. These are county election officers (Pennsylvania’s legal term for poll workers) and they play an important role in administering elections. Their duties range from checking in voters, assisting in operating voting machines, and ensuring that election returns are delivered to the county election office.
“All election board workers serve as nonpartisan election officials,” Schmidt said. “They have been trained to serve in those rules and have signed affirmations to ensure they are nonpartisan.”
Finally, you might encounter poll watchers. Poll watchers are appointed by political parties, candidates or organizations. They must be certified by the county in advance and there can only be one watcher for each party or candidate. They are required to stay 10 feet away from the voting area.
Poll watchers are allowed to keep a list of voters for that precinct, and speak with the judge of elections to lodge a challenge to a vote, Schmidt said. They may not hand out campaign material or engage in any type of voter intimidation.
While poll watchers can’t interfere with someone voting, they can file an objection to a vote with the judge of elections. A complaint can be lodged based on two factors: The voter’s identity or the voter’s residence within that district.
What to expect at the polls
If you are voting for the first time in person, or for the first time at a new polling place, you’ll have to show identification. Proper ID includes your state driver’s license or other state or federal ID, or a US passport. For a list of acceptable forms of ID, visit vote.pa.gov.
For first time voters who do not have the proper identification, you can request to vote by provisional ballot.
If you’ve moved and haven’t updated your address on your voter registration, you may vote at your previous polling location one last time.
If you requested and received a mail ballot, but haven’t returned it yet, you can either return it to your county election office on Election Day, or turn in the ballot at your polling place for it to be voided, then you can vote in person.
If you never received your mail ballot or can’t find it, go to your polling place and vote by provisional ballot.
As a voter, you also have the right to receive either language or literacy assistance at your polling place.
Above all else, Schmidt said, every voter has the right to vote without fear of intimidation.
“You have the right to vote without experiencing any harassment or intimidation,” Schmidt said. “If you experience this, you should report it to the judge of elections immediately. This should not happen from anyone either inside or outside the polling place.”
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