Delco Bureau Of Elections Instructions For People In Radnor Who Cannot Return Their Own Mail In Ballot

Press release from the Township of Radnor:

June 1, 2020

Pennsylvania law requires each voter who receives an absentee or mail in ballot to return it themselves, whether they drop it in the mail, a drop box or return it to the County Election office. In this pandemic, many voters, especially senior citizens, are concerned about leaving their homes because they are at risk for severe consequences if they contract the virus. Due to the fact that some people are receiving their mail in ballots too late to return them by mail, their inability to drop their ballots in person is having the effect of potentially disenfranchising people.

Delaware County has a long-standing policy of allowing people who cannot return their own absentee ballot due to illness or disability to designate an agent to return their ballot for them.

Instructions:

* The voter must print out and complete the agent designation form that can be found on the County’s website at: Designated Agent Form by Voter* If the person resides in a senior community, the community or an organization inside the community (including local representatives of one of the political parties or a non-partisan group like the League of Women Voters) can arrange for people to serve as agents for more than one resident. Each voter must fill out a separate designation form for the person so designated.

* The agent must print out and complete the agent certification form that can be found on the County’s website at: Certification of Designated Agent

* If the agent is acting as an agent for more than one person, the agent can simply say in the line for "name of the voter", "see attached" and attach a list or attach copies of the signed designation forms for who the agent is acting.

* The agent and/or the voter(s) must return the forms to the County Bureau of Elections by fax or by scanning and emailing them to: Fax Number: 610-892-0641 Email: DelcoElection@co.delaware.pa.us

* The agent should take the ballots for the voters the agent is acting for, together with the original agent designation and certification forms, to the Delaware County Government Center, 201 W. Front Street, Media PA, using the drop box on the side entrance off of N. Orange Street or Third Street in Media PA from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day through Election Day.

The agent can ask for a representative from the election board to be called to collect the ballots or drop them in the box. If any questions are asked, the paperwork should be presented.

Questions can be directed to the Delaware County Bureau of Elections at 610-891-4673. For more information, go to https://delcopa.gov/electionsbureau/absenteevoting.html

This press release was produced by the Township of Radnor. The views expressed here are the author’s own.