The election is getting closer, and soon it will be time to request a mail-in ballot, McKean County Director of Elections Lisa Pratt explained.

Pratt noted the deadlines for this year’s election are Oct. 19 — the last day to register before the Election; Oct. 27 — the last day to apply for an absentee/mail-in ballot.

“A voter may request their mail ballot at any time. Applications are available in paper format at the Elections office, they can be mailed to the voter, or they are available for online submission at www.votespa.com. As soon as the ballots are ready, we will begin mailing them,” Pratt said. “We are currently hoping to begin mailing ballots the first week in October, but there are pending challenges to candidates and a court order directing the Department of State that they may not certify the ballot yet.”

Once voters are registered and have ballots in hand, the deadline to vote is the same as someone visiting the polls in person — 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. It is important to note that even voting by absentee or mail-in ballot requires the voter to personally make sure the ballot is submitted.

“The voter may return their own mail ballot in person to the Elections office or they may mail it to the office. If mailed, it must arrive by 8 p.m. on November 3. Postmarks do not count,” Pratt said. “The ballot may only be returned by the voter whose ballot it is.”

On a positive note, Pratt said she does not have any concerns about this year’s election, despite discussions among legislators about the potential for issues with the U.S. Postal Service and ballots reaching the ballot box.

As for vote counting, Pratt says that, while there is more to counting votes that are mailed in, the timeline is sufficient to do so.

“I don’t foresee any delays in vote counts. The process is more involved and longer with the mail ballots, but we have until Nov. 10 to submit unofficial returns to the state,” Pratt explained. “Results are not made official until later.”