Are you one of many greater than 250 Philadelphia mail voters whose poll is susceptible to not being counted?
Or are you among the many 329 voters in zip code 19146 who might have acquired an incorrect poll?
Should you suppose you is likely to be, examine the lists posted under on your title, and browse on for directions on repair the issues and make your vote depend within the Could 20 main election.
Tackle, ID, and poll prep errors
The primary group of voters embody those that already returned their mail poll however made errors that put them susceptible to not being counted. Others by no means acquired their poll within the first place.
The Workplace of Metropolis Commissioners has been updating its checklist of ballots which have errors or are undeliverable. The quantity is comparatively small in comparison with the hundreds of individuals with mail poll issues throughout common elections, however might develop as extra ballots are acquired. The problems embody:
- No signature on the outside envelope
- No date on the outside envelope
- Incorrect date on the envelope
- No secrecy envelope (aka a “bare poll”)
- Undeliverable, presumably because of a mistaken deal with
- Unverifiable identification
Elections officers haven’t but began counting the votes within the mail ballots — they’re not allowed to do this till the polls open at 7 a.m. on Could 20, per Pennsylvania regulation.
However Philadelphia has machines that kind the sealed ballots upfront, separating them into teams by zip code. The machines can inform if a secrecy envelope is lacking simply by the load of the entire mail poll package deal, and administrative workers can inform by trying on the outer envelope if the date or signature isn’t there.
See the primary searchable checklist, towards the underside of this web page, to examine if it’s essential to repair your poll.
repair a flawed mail poll
Among the Philadelphia voters on the checklist are marked as having unverifiable identification. They need to fill out an ID verification type and submit it together with an image or photocopy of a suitable ID, if out there, to phillyelection@phila.gov or through fax to (215) 686-3398. They’ll additionally name (215) 686-3469. These are due by Tuesday, Could 27.
The opposite voters on the checklist made errors when finishing their ballots, or their ballots had been by no means delivered to them as a result of the addresses had been mistaken, or there was an issue on the submit workplace.
They’ll get a alternative poll on the County Board of Elections workplace in Metropolis Corridor Room 140 or any of town’s 10 satellite tv for pc election workplaces.
The Metropolis Corridor workplace is open 9 a.m. to five p.m. Monday by Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. It may be reached at (215) 686-3469.
The satellite tv for pc workplaces are additionally open throughout the identical hours: weekdays 9 a.m. to five p.m. and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.
Replacements could be stuffed out and submitted on the spot, or deposited in one of many metropolis’s many safe drop containers (right here’s a map).
Examine our procrastinator’s information to all of the candidates for a refresh on who’s who.
Ballots can be mailed in, however since there’s not a lot time left earlier than the election, voters are strongly suggested to drop them in particular person. They should be acquired on the Board of Elections by 8 p.m. on Could 20, and postmarks don’t depend.
Mail ballots might not be turned in at polling locations on Election Day.
Should you or somebody you already know is on the checklist however can’t get to an election workplace in time because of a incapacity, they will authorize a chosen agent to choose up and/or return their accomplished poll. A chosen agent type is out there on the Metropolis Commissioners’ web site.
Should you’re on the checklist however aren’t in a position to get a alternative utilizing the directions above, you possibly can request a provisional poll at your polling place on Election Day. Provisional ballots are the final to be counted.
Under is a searchable checklist of ballots with errors as of Could 13. For the most recent, up to date model of the checklist, click on right here to go to the Metropolis Commissioners’ web site.
Changing incorrect ballots
The Board of Elections can also be reporting that one other, much less frequent sort of poll snafu occurred this month.
Due to a vendor processing error that occurred on Could 5, about 329 voters whose mailing addresses are principally within the 19146 zip code might have acquired the mistaken poll. They ballots might embody the mistaken races — that’s, contests they’re not eligible to vote on, per the Commissioners.
The board is notifying all the possibly affected voters and has already mailed them alternative ballots. The brand new poll packets have “REPLACEMENT BALLOT ENCLOSED” printed in pink on the outer envelope, and embody an insert explaining the seller processing error.
Examine the second checklist, under, to see for those who’re one of many affected voters. Should you haven’t acquired a alternative poll, otherwise you choose to choose up one in particular person, go to the Board of Elections workplace in Metropolis Corridor or a satellite tv for pc election workplace. You can even name the board’s important quantity at 215-686-VOTE (8683).
The identical guidelines talked about above, about designated brokers and provisional ballots, apply to the alternative ballots.
Listing of voters with fixable poll flaws
Right here’s the primary checklist, of voters who made errors with their mail ballots that should be mounted.
Listing of voters who received the mistaken poll
Right here’s the second checklist, of voters in zip code 19146 who might have acquired the mistaken poll.
This story is part of Each Voice, Each Vote, a collaborative mission managed by The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. The William Penn Basis gives lead assist for Each Voice, Each Vote in 2024 and 2025 with further funding from The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, Comcast NBC Common, The John S. and James L. Knight Basis, Henry L. Kimelman Household Basis, Judy and Peter Leone, Arctos Basis, Wyncote Basis, twenty fifth Century Basis, and Dolfinger-McMahon Basis.
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