Pennsylvania voters had until 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 12 – just one week before the primary – to apply for a mail ballot.
With that deadline so close to election day on May 19, voters who requested a mail ballot within the allotted time frame could find themselves without one by election day.
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The deadline to apply for a mail ballot is routinely one week before an election. The time frame was established by Act 77 of 2019, which permitted no-excuse mail voting for the first time in Pennsylvania.
So how does someone who planned to vote with a mail ballot vote without one?
Voters who requested a mail ballot and do not receive it on time may vote by provisional ballot at their polling place.
If a ballot is received ahead of the election but without enough time to mail it, voters can hand deliver their ballots to their county elections office or a designated drop box or satellite location.
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Election. Pennsylvania main-in ballot instructions
Voters who received an absentee or mail-in ballot may vote in person on Election Day with a regular ballot if they bring their mail ballot materials with them to be surrendered.
As of May 7, more than 840,000 Pennsylvania voters had already requested a mail ballot to vote in the May 19 primary election, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State.
Mark Walters is the USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania statehouse reporter. Reach him at mwalters@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Requested a mail ballot that’s late in Pennsylvania? Vote this way