The 2020 election is already well underway, with millions of ballots cast by mail and early voting. In Chester County, the election will conclude at 8 PM on Tuesday, November 3, when the polls close.
Here are the key highlights for the home stretch:
- If you have a mail-in ballot, we recommend you vote it, and drop it in the secure drop box at Easttown Library. That’s a safe, secure option many of us have already used. The box is available weekdays 9 AM to 7 PM, weekends 10 AM to 2 PM. This and all drop boxes are open until 8 PM on Election Day.
- Did you send a ballot by mail or drop it in a box and want to make sure it’s been recorded? Follow your ballot on the PA Ballot Tracker. (There have been delays in marking ballots received. We think this is due to backups caused by early voting, which ends tomorrow.)
- Don’t want to use the mails or a drop box, but are concerned about in-person voting at the polls? You can request, vote, and return a mail-in ballot in person, at either the Voter Services office in West Chester, or the satellite office at the Hankin Library in Chester Springs. This option ends tomorrow at 5 PM, which is the cutoff date for requesting mail-in ballots. Demand has been high and there have been some lines at these facilities.
- Did you request a mail-in ballot, but are having second thoughts and want to bring it to the polls and vote in person? We actually think you might want to reconsider, and use the drop box — we’re concerned there might be backups and congestion if a lot of people want to hand in their ballots, and voting early removes the risk something will happen between now and Election Day to keep you from voting. Chester County has a goal and a plan to get all ballots counted in less than 24 hours. The vote totals published at the end of Election Day WILL include mail-in ballots! But it’s your right to hand in your ballot and vote in person, and if you do, remember to bring the ballot and its other envelopes with you.
Voted, or have a plan to vote, and wonder what else you can do? Call three friends and make sure they also have a plan to vote and know their options. If you received this via email, forward it to them if they’re not on our list. If you’re feeling ambitious, call five friends!
