It's primary day. What you need to know about voting, and your rights at the polling place

Matthew Rink, Erie Times-News
·6 min read
A voter drops a mail-in ballot into a box outside the Erie County Courthouse on June 2, 2020.

Republicans and Democrats vote Tuesday on their nominees for U.S. Senate, governor, lieutenant governor and, in Erie County, races for state representative.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m., the same time that completed absentee and mail-in ballots must be returned to the Erie County Board of Elections.

Where do I vote?

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.

There are two voting precincts that have changed since the last election:

  • Voters in the city of Erie's 6th Ward, 9th Precinct, who previously voted at New Vision Church will instead vote at the Sacred Heart Social Hall, 816 W. 26th St.

  • Voters in Corry's 2nd Precinct, who previously cast their ballots at the YMCA, will instead vote at Corry Evangelical United Methodist Church, 921 N. Center St., Corry.

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

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New districts

Remember, Pennsylvania House and Senate districts have changed, so someone who previously voted for candidates in the 3rd Legislative District, for example, might now be voting for a candidate in the 4th Legislative District. There are no Pennsylvania Senate seats on the ballot this year and there have been no changes for Erie County voters for the U.S. House boundaries, which is the 16th Congressional District.

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Frequently asked questions

Here are answers to other questions you might have on Election Day:

What if I need a ride to the polls? The Erie County GOP 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.

Is there anything else on my ballot? Voters will see candidates for both their Democratic or Republican state committee, as well as candidates for the Erie County Democratic or Republican committee. Those races are on the second side of the primary ballot.

Who can vote in the primary? Only voters who are currently registered with either the Republican or Democratic party. Though there's been discussion about opening the primaries to independent voters, legislation has not been passed that would allow for this.

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Does Erie County still have a dropbox for mail-in ballots? Yes. It's located outside of the Erie County Courthouse, 140 W. Sixth St.

What if I requested a mail-in ballot and it hasn't arrived? What if I have a mail-in ballot but want to vote in person instead? 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. If someone decides they would rather vote in person, they must bring the ballot and both the security and out envelopes to their polling place, surrender the ballot and 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.

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 at a new polling place. Otherwise, voters are not required to show identification. There have been efforts by state Republicans to require Pennsylvania voters to show ID every time they vote, but no changes have been made to the state's election law.

Voting questions:Should Pa. voters show ID every time they vote? Two Republican lawmakers want a referendum

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.

Contact Matthew Rink at mrink@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ETNrink.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County primary: Here is your need-to-know guide to the polls