technicolordreams t1_irxxi0c wrote on October 11, 2022 at 9:21 PM

Can you vote in person if you've already requested a mail-in ballot?

oldschoolskater OP t1_irxyjms wrote on October 11, 2022 at 9:28 PM

According to the Pennsylvania Department of State “If you did not return your mail-in or absentee ballot and you want to vote in person, you have two options: Bring your ballot and the pre-addressed outer return envelope to your polling place to be voided. After you surrender your ballot and envelope and sign a declaration, you can then vote a regular ballot. If you don’t surrender your ballot and return envelope, you can only vote by provisional ballot at your polling place. Your county board of elections will then verify that you did not vote by mail before counting your provisional ballot.”

Jeffy3 t1_iry2vvb wrote on October 11, 2022 at 9:58 PM

I'd be afraid the polling place people won't understand this process.

TinyApplePie t1_iry4ewv wrote on October 11, 2022 at 10:09 PM

Pennsylvania has a fairly robust training process for the poll workers, but it is always possible that your location will have a poorly qualified judge of elections. It’s key to bring your entire mail-in ballot package to the polling place for surrender - that includes the security envelope. If you are still being turned away and don’t understand why, request a provisional ballot. The only reasons you would not be allowed to vote provisionally are:

you already sent in a mail-in ballot
you are not registered to vote in the district
you are deceased

Patiod t1_is0or5x wrote on October 12, 2022 at 1:31 PM

This is a valid concern: The polling place where I work every other election or so serves 2 precincts so there are 2 judges. I've watch one competently handle this hand-in. The voters themselves get upset ("why do I need to go home and get my ballot and envelope?") but she is well-trained and stays calm.

The other judge is a mess - an much older guy who is completely overwhelmed by anything other than greeting his neighbors. He sends all his "I requested a ballot but didn't return it" people over to our judge (along with anything else that's even a little bit complex). I shudder to think what would happen if we weren't in the unusual situation of sharing a site with them.