Emergency Ballots A Lifeline for Voters When Machines Break Down

Act Now

A coalition of voting rights groups is spearheading a drive in Pennsylvania to ensure that all voters have an equal right to emergency ballots if/when machines malfunction. As things stand, there are no mandatory standards for when to issue emergency ballots and how they should be distinguished from provisional ballots (which are often not counted). This needs to be fixed for election day, Nov. 4.

With the unprecedented numbers of voters registering all over the state, and the high turnout expected in November, our statewide coalition is calling on the Pennsylvania Secretary of State to issue a directive to all Pennsylvania counties to address this gap in election day procedures. Take a moment now to send a strong message to protect our elections.

Here is what is needed:

• Emergency paper ballots must be offered to voters as soon as at least half of the voting machines in a precinct are not functioning;
• Emergency paper ballots must be clearly distinguished and produced separately from provisional and other ballots. Emergency ballot envelopes should be marked on the outside as “Emergency Ballot” and “Machines down” or other reason;
• The number of emergency paper ballots available at every precinct should be at least 20 percent of registered voters, based on the Secretary of State’s recent Memo;
• Emergency paper ballots must be treated as regular (not provisional) paper ballots. No emergency ballot should be rejected because it is missing any information that may be required of provisional ballots, but is not required of qualified registered voters; and
• Counties must properly train all their poll workers in these procedures.

Our growing coalition includes: ACLU – PA; the Advancement Project; Black Political Empowerment Project; Chester County Coalition for Voting Integrity; Common Cause; Election Reform Network; League of Women Voters of PA; National Coalition on Black Civic Participation; PA Verified Voting; Pennsylvania Council of Churches; Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition; Pennsylvania Voice; Philadelphia Coalition on Black Civic Participation; Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia; The Time is Now to Make a Change; Urban League of Philadelphia; Voter Action; and Women Vote Pennsylvania.

Don’t wait. Tell Secretary of State Pedro Cortes to issue a clear directive immediately, so that our counties have time to make arrangements and to train their poll workers in these procedures.

As you know, the time for taking for granted secure and fair elections is over. Take action today.