safety, locations and more • Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG — You might call them absentee ballots, but in Pennsylvania there’s more than one way to return them.

In many counties in the commonwealth, voters have the option of dropping off completed absentee ballots in secure drop boxes. This allows Pennsylvanians to rest assured that their ballots will arrive at county election offices by the Election Day deadline of 8 p.m., without the risk of mail delays.

Still, some public figures, including former President Donald Trump, have tried to ban drop-ins, saying they are not allowed under state law and are susceptible to fraud.

In fact, both state and federal courts have upheld their use. And although critics point to events in cases where more than one ballot was apparently cast – which is not allowed under state law – there is no evidence of widespread fraud. Here’s what you need to know:

Are ballot drop boxes legal in Pennsylvania?

Counties began widespread rollout of the ballot return tool in 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic prevented people from gathering indoors and the Postal Service faced delays.

However, state election law does not explicitly mention drop boxes, making them vulnerable to legal and political attacks.

Trump’s campaign before the November 2020 elections filed a lawsuit in federal court trying to ban drop boxes, claiming they do unconstitutional and citing safety concerns. Democratic elected officials also filed a petition in state court asking judges to, among other things, confirm whether drop boxes are legal.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that they were admissible, including: a letter from then-Judge Max Baer that the majority’s conclusion stemmed from “the clear legislative intent underlying Act 77 (Pennsylvania’s Absentee Voting Act) … to provide voters with the opportunity to vote outside traditional polling places.”

A federal judge then issued a similar ruling, dismissing Trump’s lawsuit. The judge said the campaign’s concerns about fraud are “speculative” and that “it is not the job of an unelected federal judge to suggest improvements to elections, especially when those improvements conflict with the reasoned judgment of democratically elected officials.”

Since then, there has been scattered action around the drop boxes. Republican-controlled state Senate in 2022 passed the act that would have banned them, but it failed to get through to the House of Representatives. and October this yearThe ACLU of Pennsylvania sued on behalf of voters after the Luzerne County clerk unilaterally decided to remove the county’s drop boxes. District official finally reverse course.

Are there boxes for dropping off electoral mail in my district?

Thirty-four Pennsylvania counties have at least one drop box, and 33 do not. You can check if there are any available in your district vote.pa.

The Pennsylvania legislature and governor did not ban drop boxes, but they did not formally enshrine them in state law. This means that drop boxes are permitted but not mandatory, so their use varies by state.

Some counties, such as Delaware and Philadelphia, have multiple drop boxes and satellite election offices. These locations act as primary county election offices and allow voters to apply for absentee ballots, receive instructions on how to complete them, and return them all in one place.

Other counties, such as Lancaster, are rejecting ballot drop boxes altogether. If voters in such counties wish to cast an absentee ballot in person, their only option is to go to the county elections office during business hours.

Are ballot boxes secure?

There are no regulations governing drop boxes, so the Pennsylvania Department of State has provided guidelines for their use and management.

The guidance advises election workers on how to monitor drop boxes for potentially suspicious activity, such as someone casting more than one ballot, and for tampering. This year in three statesballots in drop boxes and mailboxes were set on fire.

The Pennsylvania Department of State issued its own latest guidelines for drop boxes in September 2023. The document states that if county boards of elections decide to offer voters a “secure container that allows voters to return a completed ballot” without using the mail, then that container or drop box should meet certain security features standards.

Among other things, the drop box should be equipped with a lock and a “tamper-proof seal with a unique identification number,” and only authorized election officials should have the keys or code to open the lock. The box should also be made of durable, weather-resistant material and anchored to the ground to prevent movement.

The guidelines also say the box should be constantly monitored by authorized staff or a video surveillance system. If it cannot be monitored during certain hours, it should be moved to a secure area that is not accessible to the general public or that should be otherwise protected.

Counties should also retain mailbox surveillance video for one year after the election certification deadline.

The state agency also offers a number of drop box design suggestions, including: that it should be relatively easy to insert a ballot into them, even for people with mobility problems, and that they should be accessible to people in wheelchairs.

The ballot return slot should be clearly marked and small enough to prevent people from reaching it, and should also minimize the likelihood that someone could pour liquid or rain into it. Additionally, it should be clearly marked with official government signage and provide a phone number that voters can call to report problems. The urn should include, among others: also include information on legal penalties for forging ballots.

Are the ballot boxes open 24 hours a day?

Some yes, others are only open during certain hours. Drop box opening hours are: listed on the state website.

In its guidance for counties, the Pennsylvania Department of State states that it “encourages that facilities remain open until and including 8 p.m. on Election Day,” although counties may maintain other operating hours.

Can I drop my ballot into any drop box?

No, the ballot must be placed in the box in your district.

Can someone return my ballot to the drop box?

No, voters may only drop their own ballots into drop boxes (or any other ballot return facility), and the Pennsylvania Department of State recommends that counties follow this rule regarding signs posted on or around drop boxes.

This rule has thwarted even those familiar with state election politics. In 2021 then-governor Tom Wolf’s wife submitted his ballot in the drop box for him. A spokesman said at the time it was an “honest mistake.”

The only exceptions to this rule are people with disabilities who officially designate another person to return their ballot by completing this state formor if the voter qualifies for an emergency absentee ballot and similarly designates a person to return the ballot using another official form.