LOCAL

Franklin County could be on track for record turnout - almost 16% have already voted

Amber South
Chambersburg Public Opinion

Nearly a quarter of Franklin County's registered voters could vote by mail-in or absentee ballot this year. 

The county had issued 24,137 mail-in and absentee ballots as of Oct. 28, one day after the deadline for requests, according to a news release.

Of those, about 16,000 have been returned as of this week. 

Just over 3,300 absentee ballots were sent out in each of the previous two presidential elections. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic this year, Pennsylvania allowed all voters to request a mail-in ballot without having to give a qualifying reason, as is required to receive an absentee ballot. While Pennsylvania still differentiates between mail-in and absentee ballots, they effectively function the same way. 

Franklin County could be on track for record turnout. Nearly 101,000 residents are registered to vote in the 2020 general election - an 8.5% increase over the number of registered voters in 2016. Four years ago, 70,985 of the 93,038 registered voters cast a ballot - a turnout of 76%.

That was the county's highest turnout since at least 2000. 

More:Learn about candidates throughout Pennsylvania in our Voters Guide

In 2012, about 72% of that year's 87,399 registered voters participated in the election. 

Franklin County reliably votes Republican. With the increase in registered voters this year, it is worth looking at the party breakdown. 

According to Pennsylvania Department of State data last updated on Oct. 26, of Franklin County's 100,976 registered voters: 

  • 25,024 are Democrats;
  • 61,359 are Republicans,
  • 10,939 have no affiliation;
  • and 3,654 are affiliated with other parties.

This year, 2,056 registered voters changed their affiliation to one of the two major parties: 

  • 765 registered voters changed their affiliation to Democratic, of which 371 had been Republicans;
  • and 1,291 voters moved to the Republican party, of which 736 had been Democrats. 

More:2020 election: Q&A with candidates for Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District

More:Candidates for Pennsylvania Senate District 33 share why they deserve your vote

What's the vote-counting process?

The county expects to spend several days counting ballots, according to the news release. The county uses a high-speed central scanner that can count about 4,500 ballots an hour. 

Election workers can't begin counting ballots until the polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. They may begin "pre-canvassing" of mail-in and absentee ballots that morning; this entails opening each declaration envelope, then the secrecy envelope, then removing the ballot and backfolding the multiple folds so it lays as flat as possible, according to the news release.

The county is required by state law to count ballots received by Friday, Nov. 6 as long as they have a Nov. 3 postmark "or even an unreadable postmark date," the release states. Similarly, ballots from members of the military that are received up to a week after the election must be counted as long as they are postmarked by Nov. 3. 

Franklin County will update election results every day until all counting is complete, including that of provisional ballots, and the results have been certified. Results will be available at franklincountypa.gov; click on Voter and Election Information. Results will also be continuously reported to the state. 

How do I turn in my ballot?

There are two ways to submit your voted ballot. 

The best bet to ensure your ballot is received in time is to deliver it in-person to the Voter Registration Office in the Old Courthouse (address above) or the Franklin County Board of Elections Office in the temporary County Commissioners building at 340 N. Second St., Chambersburg. Only the voter may drop off his or her own ballot; the only exception is if a voter with a disability designates in writing an agent to deliver the ballot on their behalf.

The county does not use drop boxes. 

If you choose to mail it, send it to the Franklin County Voter Registration Office, 157 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg, Pa., 17201. Again, it must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by 5 p.m. Nov. 6. The county advises voters to allow at least three days for local delivery and 4-5 days for longer distances. 

When filling out and submitting your ballot, make sure you follow the instructions:

  • Completely fill in the ovals with a black pen, medium point if possible. 
  • Fold the ballot and place in the smaller secrecy envelope marked “OFFICIAL ELECTION BALLOT.”  Per a recent court ruling, failure to perform this step will disqualify your ballot. 
  • Place the smaller secrecy envelope into the larger one and then fill out, date and sign the “Absentee/Mail-in Voter’s Declaration” on the back of the envelope.  Failure to sign the declaration will cause your ballot to not be counted

Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com.