EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — From your local election headquarters, early voting is underway and key deadlines are quickly approaching in next month’s election.
The general election is just twelve days away and many Pennsylvanians are planning on how they will vote.
Garbage truck catches fire on I-380
“I’m voting in person,” said Larry Fields from Effort.
“Yeah, I am going to be voting. I’m going to be voting in the mail,” said Brandon Rodriguez, Kunkletown.
An increase in mail-in ballots has been seen in the Keystone State as more than 1.8 million people have been approved to cast their vote through mail.
Pennsylvania’s Secretary of State Al Schmidt tells 28/22 News the mail-in ballot system makes the task of voting easier.
“A ballot is sent to you and you can complete it in the comfort of your home. You can take time with it to research the candidates or the offices and make an informed decision,” said Schmidt.
One voter we spoke to says he enjoys the extra time to select candidates.
“I feel like especially me being on the younger side, we should be doing more research when it comes to who we’re going to be voting for and the ballots, and how they operate. I feel like a lot of people nowadays don’t even think about it,” explained Rodriguez.
But others like Elizabeth Saldana of Mt. Pocono do not agree with mail ballots. 28/22 News asked her about them.
“I don’t trust the mail thing,” Saldana stated.
We asked Secretary Schmidt how they’re reassuring voters about the integrity of mail-in voting.
“Mail ballot voting in Pennsylvania is very safe and secure. I would encourage people if you choose to vote by mail, or you’re considering it, to tune out a lot of the noise and all the back and forth that you might have heard about or read about with lawsuits going back and forth," said Schmidt.
Applications for a mail-in ballot must be received by your county election office by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 29th.
If you are approved for, and sent a mail-in ballot, it must be completed and received by your county election office by 8 p.m. on November 5th. Postmarks past that deadline will not be accepted.
