Blair County Announces Important Election Procedures and Changes

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BLAIR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

The Blair County Board of Elections would like the public to be aware of new procedures for the November 3 General Election. It is important that every citizen have the information necessary to make sure their vote counts.

General Changes:

No Straight Party Option - As a result of Act 77 of 2019, the Legislature eliminated straight party voting, so voters no longer have a shortcut option to vote straight party. If Voters wish to vote for all one party candidates for all offices, they must vote for each candidate individually by filling in the bubble in front of each candidate's name. Under-voting (only voting for certain offices and not all offices on the ballot) is permitted and will not cause the votes cast to be invalid.

New Voting Machines - Blair County began using new voting machines as of the General Election in 2019. Instead of receiving a number to enter on the machine before voting, voters will receive their actual paper ballot. The voter then proceeds to the voting booth to fill in the bubbles for the candidates for whom they wish to vote with a BLUE or BLACK pen. The voter will then scan their own ballot through the machine. The machines will alert the voter to issues that may cause their vote not to count before accepting the scan. This gives the voter the opportunity to correct the issue and repeat the scanning process, insuring that the voter knows his or her ballot was accepted and will be counted. The voter will know that their ballot counted when they insert their ballot into the precinct scanner and see a flag on the screen with a message stating that their ballot has been counted and thanking them for voting.

Mail-in and Absentee Voting:

Voters receiving their ballots by mail will receive an instruction sheet and three (3) documents: a ballot, a secrecy envelope, and an outer declaration envelope. All three MUST be returned in order for their vote to be counted. A recent decision by the PA Supreme Court held that an absentee or mail-in elector's failure to enclose their ballot in a secrecy envelope renders the ballot invalid, and it will NOT be counted. Voters receiving either an absentee or mail-in ballot are strongly urged to be sure to place their voted ballot in the envelope marked "Official Election Ballot" FIRST. Then place the secrecy envelope containing the ballot into the outer envelope that includes the Voter's Declaration on the back. Voters are REQUIRED to COMPLETE AND SIGN the Voter Declaration on the outer declaration envelope. Failure to do so is considered a fatal defect and the ballot will NOT be counted. Voters must fill in the date they sign the envelope on the line under their signature, print their name, and complete both address lines.

Mail-in and Absentee Voters have two options for returning their ballots. They may return their ballot in person OR they may return their ballot by mail. Postage for the outer declaration envelope is pre-paid.

Returning Ballot in Person - If a voter wishes to return their ballot in person, only the actual voter may hand deliver their ballot unless the voter is disabled and authorizes a designated agent to return their ballot by signing a form as described below. Blair County will not be utilizing drop boxes. However, you can return your voted ballot to the Blair County Courthouse (423 Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg) between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday through November 2nd. There will be a table inside the entrance where the Voter may deliver the completed ballot enclosed in the envelopes to a representative of the Elections office. Voters choosing this option will not be required to go through security.

ADA Authorization for a Representative to Return Absentee or Mail-in Ballot - If a voter has a disability and is unable to deliver their absentee or mail-in ballot, they may designate an agent to do so on their behalf. The voter must complete a "Designated Agent Authorization Form" which can be found on the State's website at https://www.votespa.com/Voting-in-PA/Pages/ Accessible-Voting.aspx.

Voting on Election Day (November 3rd):

COVID Precautions at Polling Places - Voters appearing at the polling place will see a sign on the door of the polling place reminding them of two requests: 1) Wear a facemask and 2) Practice social distancing. We are strongly urging all voters to follow these safety protocols. Voters are encouraged to bring their own blue or black pen to avoid transfer of germs by sharing pens. If a voter does not have an ink pen or

facemask, the poll workers will provide them one, upon request. Hand sanitizer will also be available for the voters' use.

Voters may also notice other changes at their polling place including different entrance and exit doors, no access to the restrooms, different layouts to accommodate social distancing as well as the use of tabletop privacy dividers.

Poll workers have been provided a Poll Worker Protection Kit that includes facemasks, face shields, gloves, hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes and floor marking tape. They will also be issued sneeze guards.

The number of voters allowed inside each poll may be fewer due to COVID protocols and the need to social distance. We ask voters to be patient and respectful of any directions given to them by the poll workers. Please plan for the possibility that you may have to wait outdoors before entering your poll.

Polling Place Changes - The Board of Elections appreciates that buildings of nonprofits and private organizations have been used in the past as polling places. However, due to COVID-19 concerns, at the request of those organizations, the polling places for the following precincts have changed for November 3rd:

Allegheny 1 : From: The Armory

To: Meadows Plaza at 471 Municipal Drive, Duncansville

Altoona 2-2: From: The ARC of Blair County

To: Fire Hall #3 at 530 Crawford Avenue, Altoona

Altoona 4-1: From: Altoona High School Auditorium

To: Center City Church at 801 Pleasant Valley Boulevard, Altoona

Altoona 6-4: From: Jaggard United Methodist Church

To: Altoona Bible Church at 3017 Union Avenue, Altoona

Altoona 8-2: From: The ARC of Blair County

To: Transformation Church at 1001 South 1st Street, Altoona

Altoona 14-1: From: Woodrow Wilsons Gardens

To: Altoona Bible Church at 3017 Union Avenue, Altoona

Freedom Township 1: From: Blue Knob Airport

To: Freedom Volunteer Fire Hall at 139 Municipal Street, East Freedom

Hollidaysburg Ward 5: From: The Lutheran Home at Hollidaysburg

To: St. Mary Church Social Hall at 312 Clark Street, Hollidaysburg

Hollidaysburg Ward 7: From Blair Regional YMCA

To: Hollidaysburg Area Public Library at 1 Furnace Street, Hollidaysburg

North Woodbury Township: From Homewood Nursing Home

To: Valley Rural Electric Co-Op at 2585 Cove Mountain Road, Martinsburg

Tyrone Ward 2: From Epworth Manor

To: Church of the Good Shepherd at 1650 Clay Avenue, Tyrone

Signs will be posted at the prior polling locations directing any voters who go to the wrong location to the new poll.

Voting on Election Day for Absentee and Mail-in Voters -

1) If you have already returned your voted ballot in person or by mail, you may not vote at your polling place on Election Day.

2) If you have not returned your voted ballot prior to Election Day you may vote at your polling place. Please take your UNVOTED, BLANK ballot, secrecy envelope, and outer declaration envelope to your polling place. You will be asked to surrender your ballot and envelopes and to sign a declaration form. Once the form is signed and your ballot and envelopes are surrendered you will be allowed to vote by machine.

3) If you wish to vote in person, but do not have your unmarked ballot and envelopes, you may only vote by provisional ballot on Election Day. This ensures that a mail-in or absentee voter does not vote more than once because only their main-in or absentee will be counted if it has been returned.

4) You may also vote by absentee or mail-in ballot in person on Election Day by bringing your completed ballot, in its secrecy envelope and outer declaration envelope with a signed declaration to the Courthouse on November 3rd between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Voters will be directed to the Union Street side of the Courthouse where Elections workers will receive ballots. You are only able to return your own ballot at this time unless you have a signed ADA Authorization as described above.

The Board of Elections encourages all eligible Blair County residents to vote in the November 3rd Election. Elections Board Chair Commissioner Amy Webster stresses the importance of voting in elections, and states that, "Our Blair County Board of Elections is taking all precautions possible to insure the integrity of the 2020 General Election. We want each voter to cast his or her ballot with confidence." Commissioner Laura Burke, who serves as the Elections Board Vice-Chair, said, "For each election you have to make your plan of when and how you are going to vote. This year part of that process involves learning the new procedures and making sure you are following them." Commissioner Bruce Erb said, "Voters planning to vote in person on Election Day should anticipate longer lines than usual and should follow the directions of poll workers to assure the health and safety of all. Voting is a sacred privilege, and we ask all voters to act with patience and respect.'

The Blair County Commissioners would like to thank our Elections and Voter Registration staff for working tirelessly to prepare the county for this election and request the assistance of the media to provide the public with this information. Please help us make sure that every Blair County vote counts.