While the focus of the ballot will be the race for the White House, Pennsylvanians will also cast ballots for the state’s next U.S. Senator, Congressional representatives and an array of statewide offices.

Administering that election is a complicated phenomenon.

County elections officials have to balance a host of responsibilities — preparing the ballot, distributing mail-ins, registering voters, training poll workers, preparing the machines.

And questions are starting to arise about when some of those processes will unfold.

Times Observer file photo There’s a lot of work left between now and then voters go to the polls to cast ballots on Nov. 5. Mail-in and absentee ballots are expected to go out in early October unless impacted by litigation.

Krystle Ransom, the county’s election director, said her office has received a “plethora of calls” from voters, specifically about the timeline for ballots and early voting.

“People are welcome and encouraged to apply for their absentee/mail-in ballots now,” she said. “We are processing the applications daily.”

That process can be handled online at vote.pa.gov.

Mail-in and absentee ballots should not be confused with early voting.

“‘Early Voting’ is when a ballot is cast and counted before Election Day,” Ransom explained. “Pennsylvania does not have ‘Early Voting’ as our absentee/mail-in ballots are counted on Election Day.”

Voters will only receive one mail-in or absentee ballot.

But, Ransom said, they might receive “a lot” of applications “from various voter groups or campaigns.”

She said that those with concerns over whether they have applied “can call us and we can check their voter record to see if they have already applied.” That can also be done online.

Ransom said the hope is to have ballots out to voters in early October.

She acknowledged that the timeline could be impacted by litigation.

“We have to wait until we have a certified candidate listing from the Department of State before creating the ballot and testing it,” she said.

Once the ballots go out, Ransom said that people will be able to come into the office and immediately receive a ballot.

“If someone will be leaving town, and is unsure whether we will have ballots before they leave,” she added, “they can call us and we will update them on the best course of action.”