PENNSYLVANIA, USA — The delayed Pennsylvania Primary is set for June 2, 2020, and because of the pandemic, it will be an election day unlike any other.
This will be the first election since the state okayed vote by mail, without having to provide a reason. It's part of a bill that was passed by the legislature, and signed by Governor Tom Wolf, long before the pandemic hit Pennsylvania.
The bottom line is that you will see a lot less of this on Primary Day. Numbers released by the state on Monday show nearly one million people have applied to vote by mail.
Even though you can still visit a polling place on June 2, the governor is really pushing the mail-in option.
"I'd like to emphasize how important it is for voters to have their voices heard and to be able to cast their ballot even in a pandemic, and I encourage voters who wish to sign up for mail-in voting to do so as soon as possible," said Governor Wolf.
Here are some dates to remember:
- You have to be registered to vote by May 18
- You have until May 26 to apply for a mail-in ballot.
- The mailed-in ballot has to be at your county election office by 8 p.m. on election day, June 2.
While polling places will be open election day, some might be consolidated because of the coronavirus outbreak, and the state is buying protective gear for election workers.