Governor extends time for absentee & mail-in ballot deadline
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 2, 2020
CONTACT:
Douglas R. Smith
dsmith@eriecountypa.gov
814-451-6303
Erie, PA – The deadline for receipt of Erie County mail-in and absentee ballots has been extended to June 9 by an Executive Order of Governor Wolf issued last evening. The Order is designed to aid the thousands of voters who mailed their absentee or mail-in ballots within the last few days. The deadline to drop off ballots at the Erie County Courthouse remains at 8 p.m. tonight.
Governor Wolf cited civil unrest as the reason for the action, hoping that it will prevent the disenfranchisement. Additionally, he noted travel restrictions and curfews have been impeding election activities and opportunities for voters to submit their mail-in and absentee ballots by the deadline of 8 p.m. on June 2.
Voters in possession of their absentee or mail-in ballot have two options and limited time to act. They must drop off their ballot at the Erie County Courthouse by 8 p.m. TODAY, or it may be postmarked and sent through the mail today. Ballots postmarked by today’s date, June 2, 2020, must be received NO LATER than Tuesday, June 9, at 5 p.m. Ballots received after 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, shall be segregated from all other mail-in and absentee ballots.
Erie County, as well as Allegheny, Dauphin, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, has been ordered to extend absentee and mail-in ballot returns at this time.
“The Erie County Election Office is proud to serve this community and is committed to a fair and transparent election process,” said Election Board Chairman Carl Anderson, III. “The Election Board extends its gratitude to the Governor for his consideration of the undue burdens that have affected this election period. The Election Board encourages all voters to return their ballots tonight or have them postmarked and mailed today.”
“This extension will be very helpful to those people who mailed their ballots late,” said Mary Rennie. “At the same time, it is important to realize final results will be held up until Wednesday of next week.”
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