As a result of the problems and irregularities that occurred in the 2000 presidential election in Florida and other locations, a new federal law called the Help America Vote Act, and related state laws, were passed that put new voting requirements and procedures in place for Pennsylvania’s April 27 primary and subsequent elections.

The three changes that impact voters the most are summarized below:

1.  New Voter Identification
 

"New” voters will be required to present a valid form of photo or non-photo identification when they appear to vote at the polls. A “new” voter is defined as someone who is voting for the first time ever, or someone who is voting for the first time in a new voting precinct or ward. That means even if you have voted in previous elections, if you moved between this primary election and the last election and are voting in a new election district for the first time, you should be prepared to present one of the following forms of identification:

Approved forms of photo ID
 

• Pa. driver’s license or ID card

• ID issued by any other state agency

• ID issued by U.S. government

• U.S. Passport

• U.S. Armed Forces ID    

• Student ID

• Employee ID

Approved forms of non-photo ID

• Voter ID Card

• Non-photo ID issued by state agency

• Non-photo ID issued by U.S. government

• Firearm permit

• Current utility bill    

• Current bank statement

• Current paycheck

• Government check

2.      Provisional Ballots
 

Under certain circumstances, some voters will be permitted to cast a provisional ballot in the primary election. These ballots will be examined within three days of the election to determine if the person casting the ballot was indeed eligible to vote. If so, they will be counted as regular votes.

Voters will be given the chance to cast a provision ballot at their polling place in the following circumstances:

     The person claims to be registered and eligible to vote, but his or her name does not appear on the election district register and election officials at the polling place cannot:
 

•      Determine his or her voting status.

•      The person is a new voter at that particular polling place but cannot produce an approved form of photo or non-photo ID.

•      An election official at the polling place challenges the person’s eligibility to vote

There are two instances in which voters will be required to cast a provisional ballot:
 

•      The voter is voting as a result of a state or federal court order.

•      Voters who cast provisional ballots will be notified by the county board of elections subsequent to the election of the final status of their completed provisional ballot.

3.      Complaints
 

Voters who believe that a state or local election official or employee has violated provisions of the Help America Vote Act have the right to file a complaint with the state Bureau of Elections and have that complaint considered, ruled on and resolved within 90 days. The following are examples of circumstances under which a complaint should be filed:
 

•      You believe an election official or employee has violated the requirement that a new voter present an approved form of photo or non-photo ID at the polling place.

•      You are denied the opportunity to cast a provisional ballot if your voting status is challenged.

•      You believe information that is required to be posted at the polling place is incomplete, missing or inaccessible to you

Complaint forms are available at the Bureau of Elections offices at 210 North Office Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120; by calling the Bureau of Elections at (717) 787-5280; or by e-mail request at RA-BCEL@state.pa.us. The complaint form also is available for download at the Pennsylvania Department of State Web site at www.dos.state.pa.us.

The purpose of the Help America Vote Act and related state laws changing voting procedures and requirements in Pennsylvania is to reduce the instances of voter fraud, and to ensure that every person who is eligible to vote and who appears to vote is given the opportunity to do so and have that vote counted.

If you are not sure you are registered or eligible to vote, or if you have a question about where your polling place is, you may contact the Delaware County Voter Registration Office at by phone at (610) 891-4659 or by e-mail at voterreg@co.delaware.pa.us.

If you have questions about voting procedure or encounter any irregularities or problems at the polling place on Election Day, you can call the Delaware County Bureau of Elections at (610) 891-4120. Attorneys are on hand at the bureau during Election Day to answer your questions or respond to your complaints.

More information about the Help America Vote Act and how it is being implemented in Pennsylvania, including an example of the voter complaint form and a more detailed description of the complaint procedure under the Help America Vote Act, is available online at www.hava.state.pa.us.