Chester Co. Board Of Elections Approves Polling Place Locations

Marlene Lang
·3 min read

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Chester County's 230 voting precincts will be housed in 192 polling places to allow for distancing on Nov. 3 and registered voters will be notified if their voting location is changed.

The Chester County Board of Elections has approved the polling place locations for the Nov. 3 General Election.

"Because of the current COVID-19 pandemic, a small number of polling places will not be open for the 2020 General Election," the board of elections said today.

The board explained that voters who are affected by a change a polling places will be notified by postcard. Also, on the day of the election, signage will also appear at polling places that are not open, notifying voters where to go to cast their vote.

Chester County Commissioners' Chair Marian Moskowitz said, "Even with the uncertainties of COVID-19, the majority of our polling places — around 90 percent — are opening their doors to in-person voting for the Nov.3 election, and for that we are very grateful."

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3 and all voters in line at 8 p.m. will be able to cast their ballot, the election board said.

Voters don't have to wait for a postcard in the mail. They can find their polling places for the November 2020 General Election by going to the Polling Places icon at: chesco.org/elections.

"Chester County's investment in this General Election means that those who vote at a polling place on Election Day can cast their ballot knowing that we have the maximum level of personal protection equipment and prevention measures in place to keep them, and all of our poll workers, safe from COVID-19," said County Commissioner Josh Maxwell.

The COVID-19 preventative measures in place at all polling locations include:

  • Signs posted at all polling locations encouraging voters to wear masks and to practice safe social distancing.

  • All polling places supplied with masks for poll workers, as well as Plexiglas shields, cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer. Special cleaning materials provided for cleaning the ballot scanners.

  • Extra poll workers staffed at the polling locations to assist voters in line to maintain social distancing.

  • Every voter provided with a sanitized pen to sign the poll book, and voting booths disinfected after every voter.

Chester County's Judges of Elections, inspectors and poll workers are also trained on CDC guidelines and Voter Services guidelines to ensure the safety and health of all voters, the elections board said.

"Even during a pandemic, Chester County residents step up to provide poll worker support," said County Commissioner Michelle Kichline.

"Our request for support a few months ago resulted in enough offers to work all of the polling locations we are opening, with others in reserve. We thank everyone who is spending a long day at the polls, doing their civic duty, so that our polling places remain open, staffed and safe."

Voters who have requested a mail-in ballot, but decide to vote in-person instead, must bring their entire mail-in ballot package — ballot and accompanying envelopes — to their polling place, where the Judge of Elections will spoil the mail-in ballot, allowing them to vote in-person.

If voters do not bring the mail-in ballot and envelopes with them, they will be given a provisional ballot to complete at their polling location, the elections board explained.

This article originally appeared on the West Chester Patch