LEBANON, Pa. — With five days until the Pennsylvania primary, state election officials are encouraging voters to turn in their mail-in ballots as soon as possible.
“There’s no more time to waste," said Sean Drasher, the Lebanon County election director. "If you want to vote, you have to vote now.”
On Wednesday, roughly 500 mail ballots that were requested at the vote-by-mail deadline were sent out to voters. However, many of those ballots won't be arriving in mailboxes for another three to five days.
“So, there’s a real concern that those last 500 people will be getting their ballots the day before the election," said Drasher.
County officials are encouraging voters who haven't mailed in their ballots or received their ballots late this week to drop them off at the drop-off zone in front of the Lebanon County Courthouse. Drasher said doing so will ensure your vote makes it to the election office by Tuesday's primary.
“If you get it in the mail today or tomorrow, there’s a decent chance we will get it in time," said Drasher. "But after today, I’d really start thinking about hand-delivery.”
Pennsylvania law does not allow postmarks for mail-in voting, meaning that all ballots have to be submitted to county election offices by 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
“Those mail-in ballots are treated as if you were voting in person," said Drasher. "If you get it to us by 8 p.m., I can walk those up and still count those that night. But anything that arrives after 8 p.m. we cannot count.”
He adds that voters should not wait around if they want to have their voices heard in this primary election.
“Get it mailed to us or carry it in, so that we have it in time.”
The Lebanon County ballot drop zone is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday leading up to the election. On Election Day, ballots will be collected until the polls close at 8 p.m.