FILE PHOTO: In this photo taken Feb. 24, 2012, mail is deposited into an outdoor postal box at the Sacramento Processing Center in West Sacramento, Calif.
Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo
Pennsylvanians can now apply online to vote by mail, without an excuse
The new application website comes courtesy of Act 77, which expands voting laws. Lawmakers passed it in an effort to boost participation.
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Katie Meyer
Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo
FILE PHOTO: In this photo taken Feb. 24, 2012, mail is deposited into an outdoor postal box at the Sacramento Processing Center in West Sacramento, Calif.
(Harrisburg) — Pennsylvanians can now apply online to vote by mail, without an excuse.
It’s one of several changes the commonwealth is making to expand voting access ahead of this year’s elections.
The April 28th primaries will be the first election in which Pennsylvanians can mail in their ballots. County election offices have to receive applications by 5 p.m. on April 21st. Then, voters have until 8 p.m. on election day to return the completed ballots.
That’s a significantly looser time frame than what the state’s old absentee ballot law allowed.
Some county officials have said the change will mean more work for counties and could delay results on Election Day.
In an address last month, Department of State Secretary Kathy Boockvar said she’s monitoring counties’ prep work.
“There’s so many changes that I think we really have to work very closely on,” she said. “That’s why the Department of State has been spending a lot of our focus on assisting the counties.”
In order to apply online to mail in a ballot, voters must be registered.
Before receiving it, they have to enter their name, birth date, driver’s license or state ID number and address.
