With the deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot for the General Election next Tuesday having passed, it’s time for mail-in voters to make sure their ballots are returned on time.

“It needs to be in my office no later than Election Day, November 8, at 8 p.m.,” Warren County Director of Elections Krystle Ransom said.

On Monday, Acting Secretary of State Leigh M. Chapman “encouraged Pennsylvanians voting by mail ballot to hand-deliver their ballots to their county election office, a drop box, or other designated location as soon as possible.”

“It’s time to return your mail ballot to ensure it arrives by the deadline of 8 p.m. on Election Day. Do not wait until the last minute,” Chapman said during a Capitol press conference. “Hand deliver your mail ballot now to your county election office or authorized drop-off location to be certain your vote will be counted.”

Warren County does not have drop boxes nor satellite election offices. Mail-in ballots may be returned in person, by the voter, to the county election office at Warren County Courthouse.

Waiting until Monday to mail a ballot could be risky and representatives of the Warren Post Office recommend mailing by Friday, or Saturday at the latest.

“I would not mail the ballot the day prior to the election,” Ransom said. “Instead, bring them to the courthouse and walk them to my office. If the voter is unable to walk to my office, I am more than happy to walk out to the voter to grab their ballot as we do not have a drop box, and each voter needs to drop off their own ballot.”

Mail-in ballots returned by hand must still be placed in the provided envelopes with the proper information filled out.

According to the Department of State, “Before casting their mail ballot, voters should:

¯ Read the instructions carefully;

¯ Fill out the ballot, being sure to follow instructions on how to mark selections;

¯ Seal the ballot in the inner secrecy envelope marked “Official Election Ballot.” Do not make any stray marks on the envelope;

¯ Then seal the secrecy envelope in the pre-addressed outer return envelope; and

¯ Sign and date the declaration on the outer return envelope.

Those who do not send in their mail-in ballots may take those ballots to their polling places, turn them in to poll personnel, and vote in person.

Those who have mail-in ballots and go to their polling places without them on Election Day will be allowed to cast provisional ballots. The names on mail-in ballots and provisional ballots will be compared and only one ballot – the first received – per voter will be tallied.