Pennsylvania's Primary Election is Tuesday, May 16, 2023.
Uniontown, PA - More than 14,000 registered voters will soon receive “Valentines” from the Fayette County Election Bureau.
This week, the bureau mailed letters containing annual absentee and mail-in ballot applications to all voters who previously opted to “permanently” receive such ballots. Voters must register for “permanent” status on a yearly basis.
Voters who complete and return their application will receive a ballot via mail before every 2023 election in which they are eligible to vote, including the May 16 Municipal Primary, November 7 General Election, and any special elections that may occur.
“The annual application letter goes out every February to all voters who have asked to permanently receive the form,” Kuznik said. “Signing and returning the form on the back of the letter to the election bureau is a quick and easy way to make sure you won’t miss any elections this year.”
Voters “should return their letter as soon as possible” to “avoid the rush before elections,” Kuznik added. She said ballots can be requested up to one week before Election Day, but cautioned that waiting until the deadline “may be too late to use the mail.”
“If you wait until a week or two before the deadline to apply (for a mail-in or absentee ballot), you really should come into the election bureau office to pick up your ballot in person,” Kuznik said. “At that point, there might not be enough time for your ballot to get out to you and back to us by the final deadline on Election Day. The safest thing is to use the form we sent this week and apply now so that your ballot will go out with the first mailing for each election.”
Kuznik said voters who receive mail-in or absentee ballots can “change their minds” and vote in person at the polls. They can do so by bringing their entire mail-in or absentee ballot packet, including envelopes, to their polling place on Election Day and surrender them to the Judge of Elections. Voters who forget to bring their mail-in or absentee ballots will be allowed to vote using a Provisional Ballot, she added.
“Either way, we want your vote to count,” Kuznik said. “This year is an important election, with many local and county offices on the ballot, as well as judges at all levels. It’s your chance to have your say in how our local communities work.”
All mail-in and absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Voters may only bring their ballot to the Election Bureau and cannot deliver another person’s ballot without filling out the required paperwork for applicable exceptions.
The deadline to register to vote in the May primary, or to change your address or party, is May 1. The last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot is May 9.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 16. The Fayette County Election Bureau is located at 2 West Main St. in Uniontown (the former Gallatin Bank Building).
For downloadable election forms and much more, visit www.FayetteCountyPA.org/230/Election-Bureau or the state’s website, www.vote.pa.gov.
To learn more about Fayette County, visit www.fayettecountypa.org.
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This communication is part of the Fayette County PR Initiative, which is funded through the Fayette County Local Share Account (LSA) and Hotel Tax Grants in cooperation with the Fayette County Board of Commissioners, Fayette Chamber of Commerce, The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Fayette, The Redstone Foundation and other partners. This funding has been designated for the continued promotion and marketing of Fayette County, PA.
For more information, contact Kristi Kassimer Harper, Public Relations Specialist, at 724-437-4571, kkassimer@fayettecountypa.info or Kaylie Moore, Community Relations Coordinator, at 724-430-1200 Ext. 1611, kmoore@fayettepa.org.
