The Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg.

Voters reminded of May 10 deadline to apply for mail-in, absentee ballots

WILKES-BARRE — Acting Secretary of State Leigh M. Chapman this week reminded Pennsylvania voters that the deadline to apply to vote by mail for the May primary election is 5 p.m. May 10.

On May 17, Pennsylvania voters will select their parties’ nominees for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, governor, lieutenant governor, all state house seats, state senate seats in even-numbered districts, and Democratic and Republican State Committee.

The department’s candidate database shows candidates who are running for office.

Because Pennsylvania has closed primary elections, only voters registered as Democrats or Republicans may vote for their party’s nominees to run in the Nov. 8, general election.

“Every eligible voter should have access to the ballot box,” Secretary Chapman said. “For those who either cannot physically get to their polling place on Election Day or prefer not to do so, voting by mail is a secure, accessible option.”

In Pennsylvania, two options exist for voting by mail: mail-in and absentee ballots.

Mail-in ballots

Any eligible Pennsylvania voter can request a mail-in ballot.

Voters can apply for their ballot online, or download and print an application from the Department of State’s website.

Voters do not have to provide any reason for requesting a mail-in ballot.

To date, more than 664,000 voters have applied for mail-in ballots ahead of the May 17 primary, Secretary Chapman said.

Absentee ballots

Voters who will be away from their home municipality on Election Day or who have a disability or illness that prevents them from going to the polls can apply for an absentee ballot. Examples include members of the military and overseas voters.

These voters can apply for an absentee ballot online or download and print an application from the department’s website.

So far, more than 54,000 voters have applied for absentee ballots ahead of the May 17 primary, Secretary Chapman said.

Upon receiving the mail ballot, voters should:

• Fill out the ballot by following the instructions on how to mark selections.

• Seal the ballot in the inner secrecy envelope that says “official ballot.” Do not make any stray marks on the envelope.

• Then seal the inner secrecy envelope in the pre-addressed outer return envelope.

• Sign and date the voter’s declaration on the outside of the outer return envelope.

Under Pennsylvania law, voters are only allowed to mail or return their own ballot to their county board of elections. The only exceptions to this rule are for voters with a disability who have designated someone in writing to deliver their ballot, or for voters who need an emergency absentee ballot.

County boards of election offices must receive all completed mail ballots — whether they are mail-in or absentee ballots — by 8 p.m. on Election Day, May 17. Mail ballots received after that time, even if postmarked by 8 p.m. May 17, will not count.

Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day for those voters who want to vote in person.

For more information about all voting options, voters can visit — vote.pa.gov — or call 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772).

Shapiro discusses opioid

settlement funding in Pa.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) Secretary Jen Smith this week virtually joined Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, Butler County Commissioner and County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania Board Chairman Kevin Boozel, and Berks County Council on Chemical Abuse to discuss the incoming opioid settlement funding in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania is slated to receive a maximum of $1.07 billion from the $26 billion agreement with the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors – Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen — and Johnson & Johnson over the companies’ role in creating and fueling the nationwide opioid crisis.

“We must have continued urgency to address this crisis at the community level, as that is where change begins,” said DDAP Secretary Smith. “This funding will provide opportunities to reach under-served individuals struggling with substance use disorder and provide the necessary tools to find and complete treatment, and go on to live a healthy, fulfilling life in recovery.”

Shapiro added, “These settlement funds will provide more treatment and more capacity to county and local organizations, help provide important ancillary services — like transportation for people trying to access treatment, and save lives. I’m thankful for all of our partners in this process. This would not have happened without their cooperation and expertise. I’m looking forward to the next steps and getting funds out to the communities that need them.”

This week, the Office of Attorney General is filing consent decrees with Commonwealth Court to make the settlement effective. Once those are approved, the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust will be stood up to oversee disbursement of payments. The first payments should be made to local governments by early summer with a second round of payments in early fall.

In January, Shapiro announced that all 67 counties, including more than 240 local governments with a population of 10,000 or more, have signed on to the national settlement. Overall settlement dollars will be distributed to Pennsylvania counties as well as the state level, to be appropriated by the General Assembly. Pennsylvania’s total allocation will be distributed as follows:

• 70% to counties based on the combined metrics of overdose deaths, opioid use disorder hospitalizations, naloxone administrations, and percentage of opioid shipments;

• 15% to litigating counties, subdivisions, district attorneys, and special districts; and

• 15% to the commonwealth as a whole to be appropriated by the legislature.

The settlement provides that funds are to be used for opioid remediation programs and initiatives.

Rep. Boback’s bill to help foster

youth find permanency advances

A bill sponsored by Rep. Karen Boback, R-Harveys Lake, seeking to assist older foster children in Pennsylvania in finding more permanent family connections was unanimously approved by the House Children and Youth Committee on Monday.

“This legislation will improve our processes to help foster youth achieve permanency, provide them with supportive connections, and prepare them for a successful transition out of the child welfare system and into independent adulthood,” Boback told committee members.

House Bill 1866 would build on existing state requirements that foster youth receive counseling and other services as they grow older, including the identification of family members who may be willing to assume a primary caretaker or other supportive role. Boback’s proposal would ensure those requirements are fully and effectively implemented.

“This bill is truly one of the most important pieces of legislation that I have had the honor to sponsor during my time in the House, because it concerns teenagers and young adults in the child welfare system who are in a disadvantaged position at one of the most critical points in their lives,” Boback added. “Adolescence and early adulthood are times of incredible growth, but also tremendous vulnerability, and we need to give them every opportunity for success.”

House Bill 1866 will next by considered by the full House of Representatives.

PennDOT invites public for

feedback on winter services

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is seeking the public’s feedback on winter services through an online survey.

“Winter operations are among our core services and our team takes pride in their mission,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “Through this survey, the public can help us measure expectations and identify education opportunities.”

The survey is available through April 29, and should take about five minutes to complete. All responses are completely anonymous.

The 17-question survey asks respondents about their timeline expectations for safe and passable roadways, how they rank snow-removal priorities, and how they rate PennDOT’s winter services.

Respondents are also asked how they receive PennDOT roadway information, and whether or how they use the state’s 511PA traveler information services. During the winter, www.511PA.com offers its standard traffic and incident information while adding PennDOT plow-truck locations, winter roadway conditions, and other services.

At any time, motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts.

As construction season begins, information on projects occurring or being bid this year is viewable at www.projects.PennDOT.gov. Subscribe to travel alerts in a specific area on the Regional Offices page or subscribe to statewide PennDOT news.

Follow PennDOT on Twitter and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.