They may be called absentee ballots, but there are several ways to return them in Pennsylvania.

In many counties across the Commonwealth, voters have the option of dropping off their completed ballots in secure drop boxes. These allow Pennsylvanians to ensure ballots reach county election offices by the 8 p.m. deadline on Election Day without risking mail delays.

Still, some public figures, including former President Donald Trump, have sought to ban drop boxes, saying they are not permitted under state law and are likely to be fraudulent.

In fact, state and federal courts have upheld their use. And while the detractors report incidents where people apparently cast more than one ballot — 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 adoption of the ballot return tool in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic kept people from gathering indoors and the Postal Service was plagued by delays.

However, drop boxes are not explicitly mentioned in state election law, making them vulnerable to legal and political attacks.

On the eve of the November 2020 election, the Trump campaign filed a lawsuit in federal court trying to ban drop boxes, claiming they were unconstitutional and citing security concerns. Democratic elected officials also filed a petition in state court asking the justices to confirm, among other things, whether the drop boxes were legal.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that they were allowed, with Judge Max Baer of the time wrote that the majority conclusion flowed from “the clear legislative intent behind Act 77 (Pennsylvania’s absentee voting law)…to provide voters with the opportunity to vote outside of traditional polling locations.”

A federal judge then issued a similar ruling, reject Trump’s lawsuit. The judge said the campaign’s fraud issues were “speculative” and that “the job of an unelected federal judge is not to suggest election improvements, especially when those improvements contradict the reasoned judgment of democratically elected officials.” elected.”

Since then, scattered actions have taken place around the drop boxes. Republican-controlled state Senate in 2022 adopted a bill it would have banned them, but it failed to advance in the State House. And in October this yearThe ACLU of Pennsylvania filed a lawsuit on behalf of voters after a Luzerne County official unilaterally decided to remove the county’s drop boxes. The county manager course finally reversed.

Does my county have ballot drop boxes for absentee voting?

Thirty-four counties in Pennsylvania have at least one drop box, while 33 do not. You can check if your county has any vote.pa.

The Pennsylvania Legislature and governor have not banned drop boxes, but they have also not formally enshrined their use in state law. This means drop boxes are allowed, but not required, which is why their use varies across the state.

Some counties, like Delaware and Philadelphia, have numerous drop boxes as well as satellite election offices. These locations function as the county’s main election office and allow voters to request absentee ballots, get advice on filling them out, and drop them off in one place.

Other counties, like Lancaster, reject ballot drop boxes altogether. If voters in these counties want to drop off their absentee ballots in person, their only option is to visit the county election office during business hours.

Are ballot boxes safe and secure?

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

The guidelines advise election officials on how to monitor drop boxes for potentially suspicious activity, such as someone dropping off more than one ballot, and tampering. In three states this yearballots in ballot boxes and in a mailbox were set on fire.

The Pennsylvania Department of State has released its most recent drop box guidelines in September 2023. The document states that if county election boards choose to offer voters a “secure receptacle that allows voters to return their completed ballot” without using the mail, then this receptacle, or drop box, must meet certain security requirements. standards.

Among other things, the drop box should have 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 be anchored to the ground to prevent movement.

The guidelines also state that the box must be monitored at all times by authorized personnel or by a video surveillance system. If it cannot be monitored during certain hours, it must be moved to a secure area that the public cannot access or otherwise protected.

Counties would also have to keep surveillance video from drop boxes for a year after the election certification deadline.

The state agency also offers a number of design suggestions for drop boxes, including that it should be relatively easy to drop off a ballot, even for people with limited mobility, and that they should be accessible from a wheelchair.

The ballot return slot must be clearly marked and small enough to prevent people from accessing the interior, and must also minimize the likelihood that a person could pour liquid inside or that rain could enter it. In addition, it must be clearly indicated by official government signage. and provide a phone number that voters can call to report problems. Among other things, the ballot box should also be marked with legal sanctions in case of falsification of ballot papers.

Are the polls open 24 hours a day?

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

In its guidance to counties, the Pennsylvania Department of State states that it “encourages sites to be operational on Election Day, up to and including 8 p.m.,” although counties are free to maintain different schedules.

Can I place my ballot in any ballot box?

No, you must return your ballot to a box in your own county.

Can someone return my ballot to a box?

No, voters can only return their own ballot to the drop boxes (or other ballot return center), and the Pennsylvania Department of State advises counties to note this rule on signs on or around the ballot boxes.

This rule has foiled even people familiar with the state’s electoral politics. In 2021, then-Gov. Tom Wolf’s wife cast her ballot in a drop box for him. A spokesperson said at the time that it was an “honest mistake”.

The only exceptions to this rule are if a voter is disabled and officially designates another person to return their ballot. by filling out this status formor if a voter qualifies to use an emergency absentee ballot and similarly designates someone to cast it using another official form.

90.5 WESA partners with Spotlight PA, a collaborative, reader-funded newsroom producing responsible journalism for all of Pennsylvania. More on Spotlightpa.org.