Voter Q&A
Voting — like so much else — is different this year. The Swarthmorean has assembled some information about the upcoming primary, originally scheduled for April 28.
When is the primary election?
Tuesday, June 2.
Where do I vote?
MANY POLLING PLACES HAVE CHANGED.
Partly because so many poll workers are older people more at risk from the coronavirus, polling places are being consolidated.
In Swarthmore, all in-person voting will be at the Swarthmore-Rutledge School.
In Nether Providence, wards 1 and 3 are moving from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and the Helen Kate Furness Library to Strath Haven High School, according to Paul Jacobs, vice-chair of the Nether Providence Democratic Committee. Ward 2 is staying put at Strath Haven Middle School. Ward 4 has moved from the Plush Mills Senior Living Community to a storefront in the Media Shopping Center at the intersection of Baltimore Pike and Providence Road. Ward 5 is leaving the Garden City Firehouse to join wards 6 and 7 at Nether Providence Elementary School.
If your polling place is moving, you should receive a postcard informing you. But to be on the safe side, look at this map.
I want to vote by mail so I don’t have to go to the polls! Can I do that?
Yes! It’s a very good idea!
But if you haven’t applied for your mail-in ballot yet, hurry. Mail-in ballot applications will be accepted through Tuesday, May 26. Go to swat.ink/vote-by-mail to apply for a mail-in ballot.
In Pennsylvania, starting this year, anyone can vote by mail for any reason.
I sent away for my mail-in ballot but it hasn’t come yet. Should I be worried?
Not yet. The county only started sending out mail-in ballots recently, and they report that they have received many applications, so distribution will take some time.
According to the Delaware County website: “You may call the bureau to verify we received your application and when the ballot will be mailed, or check on our website for updates. We will post a notice on the web site when ballots begin mailing.”
When does my ballot need to be mailed by?
Your ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2 (election day). Might as well mail it as early as possible.
However — if you don’t get your ballot in the mail — Lisa O’Brien, chair of the Swarthmore Republicans, notes that you can still go to your polling place on election day and cast a provisional ballot. Election officials will confirm that you did not vote by mail, in which case your provisional ballot will be counted.
Do I need to put a stamp on the envelope when I mail it?
No. A postage-paid return envelope comes with your ballot.
Is it too late to register to vote?
It’s too late to register for the primary (the deadline was May 18). But, starting June 3, the county will once again be open to register for the general election in November.
What are the most important things on the ballot?
Candidates for president.
On the Democratic side, choices are: Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and Tulsi Gabbard.
On the Republican side, choices are: Donald Trump, Rocky De La Fuente, and Bill Weld.
You can also vote for attorney general, state treasurer, auditor general, congressional representative, and state representative.
On the Democratic side, candidates for these offices are running unopposed, except for auditor general.
Six candidates are running for auditor general as Democrats. The Delco Dems have endorsed Nina Ahmad.
On the Republican side, two people are running for congressional representative. Local Republicans have not endorsed anyone in this race.
Depending on your state legislative district, you may have a choice for state representative too. Most of the Swarthmorean’s readership lives in the 161st District, represented by Leanne Krueger. She is running unopposed, as is her Republican challenger.
Will anything else be on the ballot?
On the back of the Democratic ballot, you can vote for delegates to the presidential nominating convention if you want to. For each candidate, there is a slate of people running for delegate — in other words, to attend the Democratic convention and select their candidate. Our congressional district sends nine delegates, and on the ballot it says you can vote for up to nine. It’s confusing, though, because some of the candidates (e.g. Joe Biden) have fewer than nine delegate choices listed.
According to Colleen Guiney, chair of the Delaware County Democratic Committee, understanding the reasons for the confusing delegate election process is not essential so long as you vote for the presidential candidate of your choice. Any additional delegates needed will be selected at the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee meeting in July, and will be allocated proportionally to the vote for president in each congressional district.
Republicans have a one-sided ballot.
Is there anything I can do to help the election run smoothly?
Yes! With record numbers of people applying to vote by mail, Delaware County is looking for help getting the ballots out. Workers will be paid $12/hour. To apply, email your resume to Delaware County Council member Christine Reuther at reutherc@co.delaware.pa.us.
I have additional questions. What should I do?
Check out the FAQ at Delaware County website.
Sources: Barbara Amstutz, president of the League of Women Voters of Central Delaware County; Colleen Guiney, chair of the Delaware County Democratic Committee; Paul Jacobs, vice-chair, Nether Providence Democratic Committee; Lisa O’Brien, chair, Swarthmore Republicans; Delaware County website, delcopa.gov.
