Time for everyone to participate in democracy
By Ben Bright April 7, 2020
Every person who has ever been involved in helping with a political campaign has spoken with someone they are trying to persuade to vote and has been told some form of “I don’t vote” and “I don’t pay attention to politics because it doesn’t affect me.” That person may have even been you. Now we are in the middle of unprecedented times, where a global pandemic has affected each and every one of us, and we can see how truly important it is to pay attention to politics. Decisions made at the federal, state, and especially the county and local levels, affect us all. And it is every person’s responsibility to make sure that we elect intelligent, competent, trustworthy, and compassionate individuals to every level of government.
And it has never been easier to learn about all of the candidates who will be on the ballot. Your county election board will have contact information for the local Democratic and Republican parties to whom you can reach out for information on any of their candidates. But most candidates on the local level, from state House and Senate candidates to local city council or township supervisor races, are now active on social media. They have their own websites, Facebook pages, Twitter accounts or even Instagram stories. A person can quickly and easily find out where candidates stand on the issues that personally matter to them. And if you cannot find the information you are looking for, you can contact them through one of their pages, from the comfort of your home, and ask your questions. Local candidates should always be willing to have a conversation about the local issues, and you may even find that candidates for statewide or even higher seats are willing to make a call to connect with voters on the local level. This is how democracy is supposed to work: elected officials, and those striving for office, communicating with their constituents and discussing the issues that are important to them.
It is also now easier to vote in Pennsylvania than ever before. Late last year Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law Act 77. This legislation made numerous changes to the state’s election law including eliminating straight-ticket voting, extending the final date to register to vote until 15 days before an election, and adding no-excuse mail-in ballots. This last part allows anyone to vote in elections from the safety of your home, weeks before the actual election. The changes will give everyone the opportunity to vote without having to leave the house, wait in line, and possibly put yourself, and your family, at potential health risk.
In late March, Wolf also signed into law SB 422. The most important part of this passage was moving the 2020 primary to June 2. Not only will this give additional time to wait for the current health events to ease, but it will also offer more time for people to learn more about and apply for mail-in ballots.
The mail-in ballot process is now the same as the previous absentee ballot program, but the start times and due date have been extended. The first step is to submit an application to receive a mail-in or absentee ballot. This needs to be completed by 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before the election. To receive an application, you can contact your county board of elections office; go online to the state website at VotesPA.com and download a paper application and mail it in; or go on the state election website at VotesPA.com/ApplyMailBallot and apply online by answering a few questions (you will need your driver’s license or state-issued ID card to apply online). Your county election board will then mail you a ballot. The ballot needs to be completed (in black ink), placed into the secrecy envelope provided, and placed into the mailing envelope (also provided) and then mailed or dropped off to the county board of elections office. Postmarks are no longer accepted, and the ballot needs to be received by the elections office by 8 p.m. election night. You may also do all three steps (apply for mail-in/absentee ballot, complete the ballot, and return the ballot) at the same time in person at the county board of elections office. In effect, this creates “early voting” in Pennsylvania. Side note: If you do not send in your mail-in or absentee ballot and want to vote at the polls, you will need to take the ballot that was sent to you to the poll for the election officer to void or else you will need to vote provisionally.
In these uncertain times, voting has become more important than ever. It is critical that everyone becomes involved in the democratic process to ensure their voice is heard. Act 77 allows everyone the ability to do just that and could not have come at a more critical time.
Get to know your elected officials and all of the candidates from both sides of the aisle. Find out what they are doing to help you and your family and make sure that they deserve your vote and support. Voting – and each one of us becoming an informed voter – is what our democracy is built upon and is more important than ever. Mark the Pennsylvania primary date of June 2 and the general election date of Nov. 3 on your calendars, and get out and vote!
Ben Bright is chairman of the Washington County Democratic Committee.