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WILKES-BARRE &mdash; Gov. Tom Wolf recently urged the legislature to quickly pass his plan for safe and secure elections that ensures voters will receive mail-in ballots early, have time to return them, and that counties will have the time they need to quickly count the anticipated historic number of votes cast.
				The governor also reminded voters that the best way to make sure their vote is counted is to sign up now for a mail-in ballot and return it well before the Nov. 3 election.
				&ldquo;My administration continues to have great confidence in the state&rsquo;s election system,&rdquo; Wolf said. &ldquo;Regardless of whether you cast your vote from the convenience of home with a mail-in ballot, or in person on election day, my administration has worked hard to ensure that every person has their voice heard and every vote is counted. These proposed reforms will further strengthen our elections, help people to vote safely from home, and assist counties in processing the surge in mail-in ballots.&rdquo;
				The primary in June was the first time that voters could use mail-in ballots after the historic, bipartisan Act 77 of 2019 signed into law by Gov. Wolf last fall.
				Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly embraced mail-in voting with nearly 1.5 million voters casting a mail-in or absentee ballot, more than half of all votes cast. Despite the record increase in mail-in ballots, and pandemic-related challenges, Wolf said the primary was administered smoothly with few disruptions.
				The Department of State and counties are using experiences from the primary to make improvements for the general election. Many counties, which administer Pennsylvania&rsquo;s elections, are preparing for millions of mail-in ballots by increasing the use of high-speed scanners and other technology to quicken ballot canvassing and vote counting.
				In addition, based on experience in the primary, Wolf called on the legislature to take immediate action on election improvements including:
				&#8226; Allowing counties to start pre-canvassing ballots 21 days before the election rather than at 7 a.m. election day to make vote counting faster. Pre-canvassing involves counties scanning and verifying the ballot envelope, matching the voter&rsquo;s signature to voter rolls, opening the mail and secrecy envelopes, and removing and scanning the ballot. Counties would not tabulate or report vote totals until polls close at 8 p.m. on election day.
				&#8226; Allowing counties to count eligible ballots postmarked by election day and received by the Friday following election day to ensure that all ballots mailed by the deadline are counted.
				&#8226; Requiring counties to start sending mail-in ballots at least 28 days before the election rather than 14 days as currently required. The change ensures voters who apply early will have at least four weeks to receive and return their ballot.
				&#8226; Providing counties flexibility to appoint poll workers to vacant positions earlier than five days before an election. More poll workers are still needed, and the Department of State is encouraging businesses, colleges and organizations to reach out to their county elections office and volunteer at their local precincts.
				&ldquo;If you want to vote by mail, apply now and your county will send you a ballot as soon as it is finalized,&rdquo; Wolf said. &ldquo;When you receive your ballot, complete it and mail it back as soon as you can so your county gets it in plenty of time.&rdquo;
				Eligible voters may apply for their mail-in or absentee ballot online at votespa.com, in person at their county election offices, or by paper forms submitted by mail. Once the county determines the voter is eligible, counties will send the voter a ballot with return postage paid by the Department of State, so casting a ballot is free to voters. Voters have several convenient options to return their ballot by mail, in person at their county election office or at drop boxes, which many counties expect to provide.
				Voters may register to vote and apply for their mail-in or absentee ballot online, in person at their county election offices, or by paper forms submitted by mail. The voter registration deadline for the Nov. 3 general election is Oct. 19. The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is Oct. 27. Online application for mail-in and absentee ballots are available in Spanish.
				Pennsylvania is not automatically sending ballots to voters.
				For voters who prefer to vote in person, polling places will be available in all counties on election day, Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
				Senate GOP leaders
				introduce reforms
				Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-25, and Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-34, have introduced Senate Bill 10 &mdash; legislation to expand voter access, implement greater efficiencies within Pennsylvania&rsquo;s voting process and maintain election security.
				The bill expands upon the most significant Pennsylvania election reforms in 80 years, which were passed by the Legislature and signed into law last fall, according to Scarnati and Corman. Reforms in Senate Bill 10 will enact the majority of recommendations made by the Pennsylvania Department of State in its 2020 Primary Election Act 35 of 2020 Report. The improvements also address concerns raised by County Commissioners and local elections officials.
				&ldquo;The Legislature is responsible for ensuring that Pennsylvania has a system in place to hold fair and secure elections,&rdquo; Scarnati stated. &ldquo;As a result of COVID-19 and the challenges that the pandemic has caused across our state, it is clear that voting reforms are needed prior to the November election. We look forward to working with the House of Representatives and Wolf Administration to ensure these crucial reforms are in place for the upcoming election.&rdquo;
				&ldquo;It doesn&rsquo;t matter what the process is for casting a ballot if the results are in question,&rdquo; Corman said. &ldquo;The responsibility to ensure that trust in the election process lies solely within the legislative process. This bill will go a long way toward providing additional confidence in our election process and the results by taking steps needed to increase election access, accountability and security.&rdquo;
				Senate Bill 10 takes several important steps to help guarantee that Pennsylvania elections remain fair, accessible and secure, including:
				&#8226; Mail-in & Absentee Ballot Signature Verification &#8211; Requires counties to contact a voter to affirm their ballot if their signature on file and ballot signature do not match, ensuring all lawfully cast ballots are counted.
				&#8226; Pre-Canvassing &#8211; Allows counties to open mail-in and absentee ballots up to three days prior to the election. Counties may begin pre-canvassing at 8 a.m. the Saturday prior to an election. Pre-canvassing is permitted on all ballots received up through the day before the election. Ballots may be removed from the outer and inner envelopes, flattened and scanned, but results may not be tabulated.
				&#8226; Poll Watchers &#8211; Expands the region in which poll watchers may serve from county to statewide.
				&#8226; Poll Workers &#8211; Increases the area that a poll worker may serve from their home election district to any voting location in the same county.
				&#8226; Providing Voters with Ballots Earlier &#8211; Changes the county deadline to start sending mail-in and absentee ballots to voters to 28 days ahead of the election. The previous deadline was 14 days.
				&#8226; Mail-In and Absentee Ballot Application Deadline &#8211; Moves the application deadline to request a ballot to 15 days prior to an election, which is the same deadline as voter registration. (This change does not affect emergency absentee ballots). This measure, as well as providing voters with ballots earlier, will provide more time for the U.S. Postal Service to process mail and to ensure that ballots are received back at the county in time and appropriately counted.
				&#8226; New Secure Return Locations &#8211; Creates the ability for counties to establish secured locations for the return of ballots at the County Courthouse, permanent offices of the Election Board and polling places. Allowing ballot returns to these locations will increase the number of ways to return mail-in ballots.

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Gov. Wolf urges legislature to pass proposals for safe, secure elections