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Dark n Stormy Knight

(9,760 posts)
Sun Apr 18, 2021, 08:38 PM Apr 2021

Must PA Voters Request Mail-in Ballots for Each Election?

I think I've been assuming something that's not true. When my husband and I signed up to get mail-in ballots for the November 2020 election, I thought we were getting on a list to get any and all PA ballots for the subsequent year mailed to us. Maybe I dreamed that.

I can't see how I can check if we're already signed up to get the May ballot. I guess we'd better just fill out the application.

So, do we each say we'll be out of the district or some otherwise acceptable excuse in case evil PA Rs later decide to and somehow get away with voiding excuse-free mail-in ballots?

No one should have to worry about such BS. Every citizen should be automatically registered upon eligibility, and it should be easy for each of us cast our votes. Duh.

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Must PA Voters Request Mail-in Ballots for Each Election? (Original Post) Dark n Stormy Knight Apr 2021 OP
I had to fill out a separate area to get one for the general and the primary. badhair77 Apr 2021 #1
So, I just submitted a check to make sure I'm still registered. Dark n Stormy Knight Apr 2021 #2
It looks like you have till May to apply if you need to. Call your badhair77 Apr 2021 #4
Just remembered badhair77 Apr 2021 #3
No. PA makes it easy. When you request a mail in ballot for one election, enough Apr 2021 #5
No. You do not have to apply every time in PA. NT enough Apr 2021 #6
That's what I thought. So, I wasn't misremembering it. Dark n Stormy Knight Apr 2021 #7
Before the current no-excuse absentee ballot voting law, Deminpenn Apr 2021 #8

badhair77

(4,191 posts)
1. I had to fill out a separate area to get one for the general and the primary.
Sun Apr 18, 2021, 08:43 PM
Apr 2021

I believe that only lasts a year and I may have to do it again before the general. They make it difficult.

Additional info:

https://www.votespa.com/Voting-in-PA/Pages/Mail-and-Absentee-Ballot.aspx

Dark n Stormy Knight

(9,760 posts)
2. So, I just submitted a check to make sure I'm still registered.
Sun Apr 18, 2021, 08:48 PM
Apr 2021

I am. But it's disappointing to see that from the page that verifies I am registered, I can't just click a link to request a ballot for the next election. Rs can't win if they don't make it difficult. Also if they don't lie, cheat, still, and sometimes kill.

Sorry to be so cynical, but this past year has made it even clearer than ever that I have every right to be that cynical.

badhair77

(4,191 posts)
4. It looks like you have till May to apply if you need to. Call your
Sun Apr 18, 2021, 08:51 PM
Apr 2021

county election office. They can help you with info.

badhair77

(4,191 posts)
3. Just remembered
Sun Apr 18, 2021, 08:49 PM
Apr 2021

Because I voted by mail last year the county sent me an application earlier in the year. That will get me a primary ballot for May and a general ballot in Nov. Then we do it all over again next year unless the state Repubs manage to screw up mail in ballots.

enough

(13,237 posts)
5. No. PA makes it easy. When you request a mail in ballot for one election,
Sun Apr 18, 2021, 08:51 PM
Apr 2021

you can simultaneously sign up to receive a mail in ballot for all future elections. We regularly get notices at each election that we will receive our mail in ballots automatically, and we do.

Dark n Stormy Knight

(9,760 posts)
7. That's what I thought. So, I wasn't misremembering it.
Sun Apr 18, 2021, 09:05 PM
Apr 2021

I guess we'll have to keep a look out for the ballots in the Trump-compromised US mail. If we don't have them a week or so before election day, we'll request them (again.)

Deminpenn

(15,246 posts)
8. Before the current no-excuse absentee ballot voting law,
Wed Apr 21, 2021, 07:10 AM
Apr 2021

when you applied for a ballot due to health issues and were approved, that lasted for 4 years. You automatically got an application each election to fill out. AFAIK, the requirement to fill out an application each election still applies although you get that application automatically.

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