Westmoreland swamped with mail-in ballots

The action on primary day won’t just be at the polls.

Westmoreland County elections officials on Tuesday morning will start counting what could be more than 40,000 mail-in ballots sent in advance of the primary.

Republican and Democratic voters will nominate candidates for U.S. president, Congress, state attorney general, auditor general and treasurer, as well as state House and Senate seats.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Elections Bureau Director Beth Lechman said voter turnout could reach as high as 45% this spring, with mail-in ballots accounting for about half of that.

For the first time, residents are able to vote by mail for any reason, an option that has proved incredibly popular amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

As of Monday afternoon, the county received 39,000 ballots by mail. Lechman said more than 48,000 mail-in ballots had been requested.

“If you still have a mail-in ballot, the best way to ensure it is counted is to bring it to the courthouse,” Lechman said. She noted that mail-in ballots can be presented in person and deposited in a drop box in the courthouse lobby.

Lechman said all mail-in ballots must be at the courthouse by 8.p.m. Tuesday.

Voters who aren’t sure if their mail-in ballot will arrive at the courthouse in time can vote at the polls with a provisional ballot.

In past years, the county distributed about 3,000 provisional ballots at voting precincts. About 8,500 provisional ballots were sent to 307 precincts for this year’s primary, Lechman said.