Important Information For The Upcoming Municipal Election

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. (October 21, 2021) – The Franklin County Voter Registration Office offers these helpful details ahead of the Nov. 2 Municipal Election.

What time do polls open and close?

Polls in Franklin County will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Registered voters who are in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote. 

Am I still registered to vote?

To search for your voter registration status (active or inactive), your party affiliation, or your polling place address, visit the SURE Public Portal at www.pavoterservices.state.pa.us or call the Franklin County Voter Registration Office at 717-261-3886.

If I don’t make a selection for an office, does that void my entire ballot?

By law, the precinct scanners are programmed to alert the voter if they overvoted their ballot, meaning they marked too many ovals in a particular office. The scanners are NOT programmed to alert the voter if there is an undervote, meaning the voter chose not to vote for either a candidate or write-in for a particular office. Undervoting is allowed per the election code so that voters can choose to skip over races if they so desire.

Where do I go to vote?

There are 73 polling places in Franklin County and you need to go to the polling place assigned to you based on your residence address. Check your registration card for the polling place location or log onto the SURE Public Portal at www.pavoterservices.state.pa.us. This website will also provide directions from your home to your polling place.

Has Franklin County consolidated or changed any polling places as a result of COVID-19 concerns?

All polling places in Franklin County will be open for in-person voting on Nov. 2.

If I received an absentee or mail-in ballot, what is the deadline to return the voted ballot and where can I return it in-person?

The deadline to return the voted ballot to Franklin County is 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 2.  Please mail your voted ballot as soon as possible so that there is ample time to receive it through the U.S. mail. If you are concerned with it making it on time, voters are able to deliver their voted ballots in person to the Voter Registration Office, 272 N. Second St., Chambersburg. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE YOUR VOTED BALLOT TO THE POLLING PLACE SINCE THEY WILL BE UNABLE TO ACCEPT IT.

Whom do I vote for?

Registered voters will be voting for the following offices: Justice of the Supreme Court, Judge of the Superior Court, Judge of the Commonwealth Court, Franklin County Treasurer, Magisterial District Judge #39-3-03 and #39-3-07, School Directors, Auditors, Tax Collectors, Township Supervisors, Constables, Mayors, Councilpersons, Judges of Election and Inspectors of Election.  There are also four Judges Retention questions on the back side of the ballot. A sample ballot is available on the County’s website, www.franklincountypa.gov. Ballots may also be obtained from the Franklin County Commissioners’ Office, 272 N. Second St., Chambersburg, beginning Oct. 28.

What do I need to take with me to the polling place?

If you are voting in an election district for the first time, you will need an approved form of identification, either photo or non-photo. No other voter will be asked to present an ID.

Is my polling place handicapped accessible?

All polling places are considered handicapped accessible.

May I receive assistance in voting?

No person is allowed to receive assistance in voting unless his/her registration record indicates the need for assistance or the voter completes and signs a declaration of the need for assistance at the polling place prior to entering the voting booth. A voter may select anyone to assist them EXCEPT: 1) the Judge of Elections; 2) the voter’s employer or agent of that employer; or 3) an officer or agent of the voter’s union. Also, each polling place will have a lighted magnifier with bifocal lens available to assist those voters who may have trouble reading their ballot.

Are candidates allowed to pass out/display campaign literature at the polling place?

The Election Code states that those individuals or candidates who are campaigning must remain at least 10 feet distant from the entrance of the polling place during the progress of the voting.

Am I allowed to display or wear any type of attire with a candidate’s name on it into the polls?

The Franklin County Election Board reminds all voters that NO electioneering is allowed within the polling place. This includes the display of candidate names on buttons, signs or clothing within the polling place as well as items advocating a political party, etc. Voters will be asked to remove the item or to cover it up before receiving a ballot. 

Where can I find information about the candidates who will be appearing on the ballot?

Check the local newspapers or contact either the Franklin County Democratic Committee (717-530-1662) or the Franklin County Republican Party (717-263-7999) for information.

Who do I contact with questions regarding voting or the election day process?

All voter registration questions should be directed to the Franklin County Voter Registration Office at 717-261-3886. All election-related questions should be directed to the Franklin County Election Board at 717-261-3810.

What type of voting system do we use in Franklin County?

For information on voting in Franklin County, you can watch an online demo and/or instructional video on voting an optical scan ballot using a DS200 Precinct Counter at www.vote.pa.gov (Voting & Elections; Types of Voting; In Person). We also have an assistive marking device for the blind or visually impaired in each polling place that is called an ExpressVote. A demo of this machine can also be viewed at www.vote.pa.gov.

Where can I view election results?

Franklin County results will be posted on the County’s website, www.franklincountypa.gov. To view results from other counties or for all of Pennsylvania, please use the Department of State’s website, www.electionreturns.state.pa.us.

Remember, voting is a privilege and every vote counts!

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