Whether in-person at the polls or by mail, the Pennsylvania Department of State and the Warren County Elections Office want people to know their voting rights for today’s General Election.

The county has been receiving mail-in ballots and will continue to accept those until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the courthouse. “A postmark by that time does not count,” according to the Department of State (DOS).

The county elections staff has been checking mail-in ballots as they arrive. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that mail-in votes with incorrect dates or no dates will not be counted.

Other defects that would keep a ballot from being counted include the absence of the voter’s signature or a “naked ballot” – one that is not sealed in the secrecy envelope.

“The county has implemented a “notice and opportunity to cure” procedure,” County Solicitor Nathaniel Schmidt said. Whether a voter drops off their mail-in ballot in-person or it arrives in the mail, staff members can usually tell when there is a problem.

“Staff can often tell if there’s a naked ballot,” Schmidt said. The other defects are easier to notice. “When election staff identifies a defect on the envelope, they contact the voter” and give that voter the opportunity to cure the defect.

He said there are only a few — possibly as few as three — mail-in ballots with known defects that have not already been cured by the voters.

“The end of the day Monday is safely the last day to cure any defects,” Schmidt said. “Pre-canvassing (the opening of ballots) starts Tuesday.”

Some of the highlights from a Friday DOS release include:

¯ Only first-time voters, or those voting for the first time in a new precinct, must show ID. Acceptable ID includes both photo and non-photo ID. Registered first-time voters who do not bring ID to the polls can return with identification or must be offered a provisional ballot.

¯ If a voter applied for a mail ballot but never received it, they should vote by provisional ballot at the polls on Election Day. Their county board of elections will then verify that they did not vote by mail before counting their provisional ballot.

¯ If a voter’s name is not in the poll book, poll workers can call the County Board of Elections to see if the voter is registered in another precinct in the county. Registered voters who are in the wrong precinct polling place should go to the correct polling place to vote, but a voter who believes he or she is registered in the precinct and should be listed in the poll book is entitled to cast a provisional ballot.

¯ If 50 percent or more of the voting machines at a polling place are not working, voters have the right to use an emergency paper ballot. Poll workers should immediately offer the ballots but, if they do not, voters should request one rather than leave without voting.

¯ Voters have the right to vote without being subjected to intimidation, harassment, or discriminatory conduct. A voter who experiences intimidation should report it to their county board of elections and the district attorney’s office. Voters can also call the Department of State’s year-round voter hotline at 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772).