Politics & Government

Solobay Urges State, Employers to Ensure Storm Workers Can Vote

Be prepared, state Sen. Tim Solobay said.

State Sen. Tim Solobay is reminding workers affected by this week’s impending storm to apply for an emergency absentee ballot if their work will keep them away from home through Election Day.

“There are going to be hundreds and perhaps thousands of utility workers, Red Cross volunteers, contractors and others who might be needed in hard hit areas near the coast,” Solobay said. “Unfortunately, part of preparing for this storm might include preparing to vote.”

The arrival of Hurricane Sandy in the Mid-atlantic region coincides with several critical absentee ballot deadlines and Solobay is urging state election officials, employers and other agency officials to do what they can to make sure the votes of those helping during and after the storm are counted.

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State election law provides for emergency absentee ballots if an unexpected event will prevent voters from making it to the polls on Election Day, which is one week from Tuesday.

“This is going to take some cooperation from employers, friends and family to make sure the storm doesn’t prevent people who are doing important work from voting,” Solobay said. 

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Voters who are called away this week and are unable to deliver the emergency absentee ballot application to county election offices are permitted to designate someone to deliver the application and bring the ballot to them.

Pennsylvania’s deadline for accepting regular absentee ballots is Tuesday at 5 p.m. and the ballots must be returned by Friday at 5 p.m.

For more information on the rules governing absentee ballots, can visit Sen.Solobay’s website at www.senatorsolobay.com  or click here.

 


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