FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Montco Announces 11 Secure Ballot Drop-Off Box Locations for November 3 General Election

Norristown, PA (October 2, 2020) – Montgomery County officials will install 11 secure ballot drop-off boxes throughout the County to help voters meet the November 3 General Election deadline. Completed mail-in ballots and absentee ballots may be dropped off starting Saturday, October 3. Ballots placed in the secure ballot boxes will be delivered daily to Voter Services, and date stamped when they are received.

“Due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19, we still see a high demand for mail-in voting, and mail delivery times are slower than normal,” said Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr., Chair, Montgomery County Board of Elections. “We are doing everything we can to help voters meet the November 3 General Election Day deadline by providing these secure ballot drop-off boxes.”

The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is October 27 by 5 p.m. Officials are urging voters to apply immediately to ensure adequate turnaround. Voters can also check the status of their mail-in ballot online by visiting www.votespa.com. The ballot status will update when the Election Board has received it.

If you are using the USPS to mail your ballot, it must be completed and postmarked by November 3 and received in Voter Services by 5 p.m. on November 6. If you are using a secure drop-off box or bringing your completed ballot to a Voter Services Office, you must do so by 8 p.m. on November 3.

Any voter who was approved for a mail-in or absentee ballot and later decides to vote in person may do so. Either bring your ballot and envelopes to the polls with you so that they can be voided by a poll worker, enabling you to vote in person. Or, fill out a provisional ballot, which will only be counted once after verification that the Election Board has not received your mail-in ballot.

Due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, some polling locations were moved. Each registered voter will receive a mailing with their polling location on it. Final polling locations are being continuously updated and will be posted at www.montcopa.org/voterservices. For public health and safety, please wear a mask. Voting stations and equipment will be cleaned throughout the day, and social distancing guidelines will be implemented.

2020 General Election Secure Ballot Drop Box Locations and Hours of Operation

All secure drop-off boxes are available during the following days and times:

October 3 through October 30:           Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays:      9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays:                      11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturdays and Sundays:                        11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

October 31 and November 1:                                                                          10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

November 2 and 3:                                                                                          9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Before dropping mail-in or absentee ballots into the drop-off box, make sure that your completed ballot is placed inside the smaller, secrecy envelope first. Then, put the sealed secrecy envelope into the official return envelope and sign and date the back. Ballots that are not in both envelopes cannot be counted per Pennsylvania Election Code. Pursuant to the Pennsylvania Election Code, voted ballots may only be returned by the individual voter and not by any other individuals. County Security will be on-site at each location, and there will be video surveillance. Anyone depositing a ballot that does not belong to them will be referred to the District Attorney’s Office.

If a voter has an illness or disability that will prevent them from dropping off their ballot, they can designate an agent to pick up or drop off their ballot. The agent can only pick up or drop off ballots for voters who are in the same household, and the ballot can only be picked up and dropped off to Voter Services, 425 Swede St., Norristown, PA. The first page should be signed by the agent, and the second page should be signed by the voter. The Certification of Designated Agent form can be found at www.montcopa.org/VoterServices.

The last day to register to vote for the General Election is October 19. You must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of Pennsylvania 30 days before the election. You may register to vote and apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot at www.votespa.com. For more information about the November 3 General Election and where to vote, visit www.montcopa.org/voterservices or call 610.278.3280.

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