Election Day is here: What you need to know before going to the polls
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Who will be Pennsylvania's next governor? Who will succeed Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey and how will their victory shape the chamber in the years ahead? Who will replace Curt Sonney in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives when he completes 18 years of service at the end of the year?
Those are some of the questions Erie County voters will answer Tuesday.
In the governor's race, incumbent Tom Wolf is term-limited, so Attorney General and fellow Democrat Josh Shapiro and Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano are running to succeed him. For Toomey's open U.S. Senate seat, which he's vacating after two terms in office, it's Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Democrat, against Republican Mehmet Oz, the celebrity heart surgeon.
More:Americans trusted Dr. Oz on health. But will PA voters trust him on politics?
Here's what you need to know before casting your ballot:
When do polls open and close in Pennsylvania?
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
What about absentee and mail-in ballots?
Mail-in and absentee ballots must be returned to the Erie County Voter Registration Office or left in the drop-box outside of the Erie County Courthouse, 140 W. Sixth St., by 8 p.m.
More:A third term for Wolf? How Josh Shapiro contrasts with his opponent & current Pa. governor
Have the laws changed on mail-in ballots?
No, but the Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently deadlocked on a case about dating mail-in ballots. They ordered all ballots lacking a date or containing the wrong date must be segregated from other ballots and set aside. The courts might later determine whether or not a provision in state law requiring these ballots to be dated violates a voter's constitutional rights. Bottom line: Make sure to read your mail-in ballot instructions carefully and apply the date as instructed before returning it.
But if you've submitted an improperly dated mail-in ballot, the Voter's Registration office will contact you and give you the chance to fix it by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Fix it today:Voters can correct improperly dated mail-in ballots. Here's what you need to know
Baxter will rule:Federal judge in Erie to decide whether PA undated mail-in ballots can be counted
Find your Erie County polling place
Don't know where you vote or you're concerned your polling place might have changed? Search by address at tinyurl.com/yckw9t6s to find out where to cast your ballot.
What's on the ballot?
Want to see what your ballot looks like before heading to the polls? You can print off or download a sample ballot from the Erie County Board of Elections website at tinyurl.com/4h35c36p
State house and senate districts changed. Congressional districts changed, too. What district do I live in now?
The release of the 2020 U.S. Census prompted the reapportionment process which ensures that people have equal representation. Pennsylvania House and Senate districts have changed in some cases. Congressional lines have been redrawn, too.
If you live in Erie County, you won't see any change in your U.S. House District. All county residents still fall within the 16th District. And because there are no Pennsylvania Senate seats up for re-election this cycle, you won't see anything different on your ballot in this regard, either.
More:John Fetterman has reforged every political office he’s held. Now what?
But Pennsylvania House districts have changed slightly. There are currently six districts, but when 2023 comes — as the races on the ballot will reflect -- there will only be five. Wentling and his 17th Legislative District are no longer in Erie County. But the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th districts remain.
I want to vote in person, but don't have transportation
The Erie County Republican Party will provide rides for any voters. Call 814-636-5051 for information. The Erie County Democratic party also provides free rides for all voters. Call 814-790-5408 for their services.
What if I requested a mail-in ballot and it hasn't arrived?
If you requested a ballot but have not received it, you can go to the Erie County Voter Registration Office, where clerks will research what happened to the ballot and provide the voter with a provisional ballot. This process can also be done at a voter's polling place.
Need to know:Voters can correct improperly dated mail-in ballots. Here's what you need to know
What if I have a mail-in ballot but want to vote in person instead?
If someone decides they would rather vote in person, they must bring the ballot and both the security (inner) and outer envelopes to their polling place, surrender the ballot and both envelopes, and then sign a declaration to remit their mail-in ballot. By doing so, they will be able to vote in person.
Can I drop off a completed mail-in ballot at my polling place?
No. Either surrender the mail-in ballot at your polling place and vote in person instead or take your ballot to the Erie County Voter Registration Office on the first floor of the Erie County Courthouse, 140 W. Sixth St. You can also place your completed ballot (enclosed in both the security and outer envelopes) in the drop box outside of the courthouse.
More:COVID created Doug Mastriano’s governor candidacy in PA. Now we can’t take our eyes off it
Can I take a selfie in the voting booth?
Pennsylvania allows people to take selfies in the voting booth, and photos both inside and outside your polling place, but the state strongly discourages photos of other people voting, according to the Pennsylvania Secretary of State. It is also recommended that you wait until you've left a polling place before posting photos on social media.
Do I need to show ID at my polling place?
Only if you are voting for the first time or voting for the first time at a new polling place. Otherwise, voters are not required to show identification.
What do I do if someone tries to challenge my right to vote?
The only people allowed to challenge a voter's qualifications to vote are poll workers and poll watchers, who must direct any good-faith challenges to an elector's "identity, continued residence in the election district, or qualifications as an eligible voter" to the judge of elections only, not the voter. The decision ultimately rests with the judge of elections. But, in most cases, a voter would be provided a provisional ballot and permitted to vote. Election workers would later determine if the voter is indeed registered to vote and, depending on their decision, either include or exclude the ballot in the official count. Poll workers include inspectors, clerks and election judges. Poll watchers are people appointed by a candidate or political party to observe the voting process. Poll watchers cannot, however, engage or intimidate a voter, especially in an effort to influence how they vote. Poll watchers are not permitted near the space where a voter casts their ballot. If you are the victim of or witness any type of voter intimidation, report it immediately to the Board of Elections or the district attorney.
What is considered voter intimidation or discriminatory conduct?
The Secretary of State's Office lists the following:
Aggressive or threatening behavior inside or outside the polling place.
Blocking or interfering with access to the entrance or exit to the polling place; accessible accommodations for voters with disabilities; voter sign-in tables or voting booths/voting machines.
Direct confrontation or questioning of voters, including asking voters for documentation or proof of eligibility, when none is required.
Disrupting voting lines inside or outside of the polling place.
Disseminating false or misleading election information, including information on voting eligibility, polling place procedures, polling place hours or voting methods.
Election workers treating a voter differently in any way based on race, ethnicity, national origin, language, disability or religion.
Aggressive or threatening brandishing of weapons.
Photographing or videotaping voters to intimidate them.
Posting signs in the polling place to intimidate voters or drive support for a candidate.
Routine and frivolous challenges to voter's eligibility by election workers or private citizens that are made without a stated good-faith basis.
Questioning voters about citizenship, criminal record or political choices.
Using raised voices, screaming, yelling or shouting; use of insulting, offensive or threatening language; chanting taunts, or threatening songs inside the polling place.
Vandalism of polling places or polling place equipment/materials.
Verbal or physical confrontation of voters by persons dressed in official-looking uniforms.
Falsely representing oneself as an election official or law enforcement authority.
Violence or using the threat of violence to interfere with a person's right to vote.
Interfering with or violating a voter's right to a secret ballot at any point in the process.
More:Voting in Pa.: You have questions, we have answers
Contact Matthew Rink at mrink@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ETNrink.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Election Day 2022: What Erie County voters should know
