FAQ - GENERAL INFORMATION ON VOTING IN PERSON:
What are the changes to the law and when do they go into effect?
At the November 6, 2012 General Election, all voters will be asked to show an acceptable photo ID, however, if they do not have one, they will be able to vote anyway. All voters will also be given a handout provided by the Department of State pertaining to the law.
Please note that the "first-time voter" requirements that were in place prior to September 17, 2012 will apply in the November 6 General Election. Therefore, those voters who are required under the Help America Vote Act and/or the Pennsylvania Election Code to provide identification will still be required to provide identification at the November 6 General Election and, if unable to do so, must vote a provisional ballot.
The following information pertains to the requirements of the Voter ID Law (If and when it finally goes into effect):
What is an acceptable form of ID?
All IDs must contain a NAME, a PHOTO, and an EXPIRATION DATE that is CURRENT, unless noted otherwise. Acceptable IDs include:
Photo IDs issued by the U.S. Government or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including:
-
Pennsylvania driver's license or PennDOT photo ID card (valid for voting 12 months past expiration date)
-
U.S. Passport
-
U.S. military ID (active duty and retired military IDs may designate an expiration date that is indefinite). Military dependents' IDs must contain a current expiration date.
Employee photo identification issued by Fedeal, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania County, or Pennsylvania Municipal government
Photo identification issued by an accredited Pennsylvania public or private institution of higher learning
Photo identification issued by a Pennsylvania care facility, including long-term care faciilities, assisted living residences and personal care homes
In the case of a voter who has a RELIGIOUS OBJECTION to being photographed, acceptable IDs include the following:
What if a voter does not have an acceptable form of ID?
For a registered voter who PREVIOUSLY HAD a Pennsylvania driver's license or a PennDOT photo identification card that has been expired for one year or longer:
-
A voter who still has his or her expired Pennsylvania driver's license or PennDOT photo identification card should bring it along to the Driver's License Center. However, if the voter no longer has it, PennDOT will be able to determine if the voter has an expired product.
For a registered voter who has NEVER HAD a Pennsylvania driver's license or a PennDOT photo identification card:
Social Securiity Card AND one of the following:
-
Certificate of U.S. Citizenship
-
Certificate of Naturalization
-
Valid U.S. Passport
-
Birth Certificate with a raised seal
PLUS
Two proofs of *residency, such as lease agreements, current utility bills, mortgate documents, W-2 form, tax records
*Students at least 18 year of age: Accepted proofs of residence include the room assignment paperwork (considered a lease) and one bill with their dorm room address on it. Bank statements, paystubs and credit card bills are all acceptable.
*Other Individuals who may not have any bills, leases or mortgage dcuments in their name may bring the person with whom they are living along with that person's driver's license or photo ID to a Driver's License Center as one proof of residence plus at least one more piece of official mail with their name and address.
*Homeless Individuals can use the address of a shelter as their residence provided they visit a Driver's License Center with an employee from the shelter that has an employee photo identification issued by the shelter and a letter on the shelter's letterhead indicating that the homeless individual stays at the shelter.
Obtain and sign an affirmation form, affirming that the voter does not have another acceptable form of ID for voting purposes. The form is available on PennDOT's website or at a Driver's License Center.
VISIT PENNDOT'S WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION
How does a voter who has a religious objection to being photographed obtain a Pennsylvania valid without-photo driver's license or PennDOT valid without-photo identification card?
A voter who has a religious objection to being photographed should visit a PennDOT Driver's License Center or call PennDOT's Customer Call Center at 1-800-932-4600 to request an AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF EXEMPTION FOR SINCERELY HELD RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.
The voter should complete the Affidavit and mail it to the address included with the instructions. PennDOT will then make contact with the voter.
What if a voter cannot afford to obtain acceptable ID? Can they still vote?
If a voter cannot obtain an acceptable form of ID due to indigency, including an inability to pay for a certified birth certificate to get a Free ID, the voter will still be able to vote by provisional ballot.
However, in order for the ballot to count, the voter must, within six (6) days after the election, provide the county board of elections with an affirmation that states that the voter is the same person who cast the provisional ballot, and that the voter is indigent and therefore unable to obtain proof of identification without the payment of a fee.
FAQ - GENERAL INFORMATION ON VOTING BY ABSENTEE BALLOT:
What are the changes to the absentee voting law and when do they go into effect?
Starting with the November 2012 General Election, Pennsylvania law now requires voters to provide proof of identification with an Application for Absentee Ballot.
Is anyone exempt?
A qualified absentee voter is not required to provide proof of identification if the voter is entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) or by alternative ballot under the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act.
What is proof of identification for a qualified absentee voter?
For a voter who has a current and valid Pennsylvania driver's license or PennDOT photo ID card, the voter must provide the driver's license number or photo ID number on the Application for Absentee Ballot.
For a voter who does not have a Pennsylvania driver's license or PennDOT photo ID card, the voter must provide the last four digits of his or her Social Security Number on the Application for Absentee Ballot.
For a voter who has a RELIGIOUS OBJECTION to being photographed, the voter must provide the Pennsylvania valid without-photo driver's license number or PennDOT valid without-photo identification number on the Application for Absentee Ballor, OR the voter must provide a copy of these documents with the Application for Absentee Ballot.
What if a voter does not have a Pennsylvania driver's license or Social Security Number?
A voter without either must provide with his or her Application for Absentee Ballot a copy of an ID that shows a NAME, a PHOTO, and an EXPIRATION DATE that is CURRENT, unless noted otherwise such as:
Photo IDs issued by the U.S. Government or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania including:
Employee photo identification issued by Federal, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania County, or Pennsylvania Municipal government
Photo identification issued by an accredited Pennsylvania public or private institutuion of higher learning
Photo identification issued by a Pennsylvania care facility, including long-term care facilities, assisted living residences and personal care homes
What does the county board of elections do with a voter's proof of identification?
A county board of elections must verify the proof of identification before counting an absentee ballot. If the board is unable to do so, the board will contact the voter so he or she will be able to provide acceptable proof of identification.
What if the voter does not include proof of identification with the Application for Absentee Ballot?
A voter who does not include proof of identification on or with the Application for Absentee Ballot will still receive an absentee ballot; however, the county board of elections will send a notice to the voter with the absentee ballot requiring the voter to provide proof of identification or the ballot will not be counted.
A voter should provide the proof of identification as soon as possible so that the county board of elections can verify the information and the ballot can be counted.
If the county board of elections has not received the proof of identification that can be verified by the sixth (6th) day after the election, the voter's absentee ballot will not be counted.
Is proof of identification information public?
Proof of identification on or provided with the Application for Absentee Ballot cannot be made public.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PENNSYLVANIA'S VOTER ID LAW, VISIT www.VotesPA.com or call 1-877-VotesPA (1-877-868-3772)
Provisional Ballots
New Federal and State laws provide voters with the opportunity to cast a provisional ballot under certain circumstances. County election officials will examine the provisional ballots within six (6) days after an election to determine if the individual voting that ballot was entitled to vote at the election district in the election.
Are You Eligible to Cast a Provisional Ballot?
Individuals are to be provided the opportunity to cast a provisional ballot if:
- The individual appears to vote and claims to be properly registered and eligible to vote in this election district, but the individual's name does not appear on the general register and elections officials cannot determine his registration.
- Regardless of whether the individual's name appears on the general register, the individual does not have an approved form of identification.
- An election official asserts that the individual is not eligible to vote. In a Primary Election, this includes voters who claim to be registered for a particular political party, but the general register indicates they are registered as a member of another political party.
Individuals are required to vote by provisional ballot if:
- The voter is voting as a result of a Federal or State court order
- A voter is voting as a result of an order extending the time established for closing the polls by State law that is in effect ten (10) days before an election.
Within three (3) days after the election, the county board of elections will examine the provisional ballot to determine the validity of your completed provisional ballot. A district election official will provide you with information for you to determine the status of your completed provisional ballot.
Complaints
New Federal and State laws provide voters with the opportunity to file a complaint based on belief that a State or local elections official or employee has violated, is violating, or is about to violate provisions of Title III of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (relating to uniform and nondiscriminatory election technology and administration requirements).
Do You Believe Election Officials Have Failed to Comply with Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002?
If you answered yes, then the information below will be helpful to you. Potential circumstances for filing a complaint are listed below:
- An individual believes a State or local elections official or employee has violated the provisions of Title III that require a voter to provide an approved form of identification the first time he appears to vote
- An individual is denied the opportunity to cast a provisional ballot
- An individual believes a State or local elections official or employee has violated provisional ballot procedure
- An individual believes information that is required by law to be posted in the polling place is incorrect, inaccessible or missing
- An individual believes that the mail-in voter registration application form is incomplete or missing required information
For More Information, please see the Pennsylvania Department of State Notice relating to the complaint procedures under section 402(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and section 1206.2 of the Pennsylvania Election Code. Also see the Statement of Complaint-Violations of Title III of the Help America Vote Act. The Notice and Statement of Complaint are available at this polling place, the County Board of Elections, or at the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling 1-877-VOTES-PA (1-877-868-3772).
|
