By TOM SHORTELL THE MORNING CALL 

The 2020 general election is just weeks away (Tuesday, Nov. 3). Politics aside, this presidential election will be unlike any other in living memory as millions of Pennsylvanians are expected to cast their ballot without stepping into a polling place. But between changes to state law, federal lawsuits over the process and the logistical challenges of voting in a pandemic, countless voters are uncertain about many of the specifics.

That’s why the Morning Call is creating a new series tackling questions Pennsylvania voters may encounter between now and Election Day. If you have questions about the elections process, send them to tshortell@mcall.com or call 610-820-6168.

How do I vote with a mail-in ballot?

With the coronavirus still posing a threat to public safety, many voters are hesitant to go to the polls this November. But months before the virus emerged, the state passed sweeping election changes that gave more Pennsylvanians an alternative. Previously, Pennsylvanians were allowed to mail an absentee ballot if travel or poor health prevented them from reaching the polls. Now, voters can opt to mail in their ballot without having to provide a recognized excuse.

For now, voters have until Oct. 27 to request a mail-in ballot for the general election. Legislators have introduced bills that could set an earlier deadline, but these have not passed into law, and Gov. Tom Wolf has vowed to veto such legislation if it’s passed.

Whatever the deadline is, voters who want a mail-in ballot are encouraged to request theirs early. The United States Postal Service told the state it is experiencing delays in its service.

People who wait to file their request or send in their completed ballots could miss critical deadlines.

How do I get my mail-in ballot?

Registered voters have a few ways to request a mail-in ballot.

You can go online to www.votespa.com/applymailballot

Applicants can provide their email address if they want to receive an email confirming when their request has been processed. They will receive their ballot in the mail.

You can acquire a physical application form and turn it in to your county election office

There are a few ways to acquire a paper application.

• Applicants can go to votespa.com, download the mail-in ballot application and print it.
• Applicants can visit their county’s election office and request the mail-in ballot application form.
• Applicants can request the form by contacting the Department of State by emailing ra-voterreg@pa.gov or by calling 1-877-VOTESPA.

Once they have the form, applicants will need to fill it out and turn it in to their local election office, either in person or by mail.

You can receive an “on demand” mail-in ballot from your county election office

Once counties print their mail-in ballots, voters can go to their local election office and get their mail-in ballot in person. The voter requesting the ballot must be present — they cannot send someone to receive it on their behalf. Lehigh and Northampton counties expect to have their mail-in ballots on hand by late September or early October. Voters could cast their vote and turn it in during the same visit.

How do I turn in my completed ballot?

Once voters have their mail-in ballot, they’ll need to complete it and turn it in to their county election office. Under current law, the ballots must be at the county election office by 8 p.m. Election Day to be counted. Ballots need to be placed inside two envelopes — an outer, mailing envelope and an inner envelope designed to protect the secrecy of the ballot.

Voters have several options on turning in their ballot

Mail them to the county election office

Election officials are warning voters not to wait to mail their completed ballots. Delays with the post office could prevent ballots from arriving in time to be counted. For the primary, voters were advised to mail their ballots by the Friday before the election. With the delays, voters will want to mail their ballots at least 10 days before the election.

Turn them in at a ballot drop box

Voters nervous about the post office’s reliability can turn in their ballots at designated drop boxes. Lehigh and Northampton counties each have a drop box in the lobby of their main government buildings.

• Lehigh County: 17 S. 7th St, Allentown
• Northampton County: 669 Washington St., Easton

The Trump administration has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the use of these boxes, and Republican legislators have proposed bills that would eliminate them. As of now, however, they’re still legal. County officials plan to put them out in late September or early October.

Present them to the county election office

The ballots can also be turned in to the county election office. The person who completed the ballot must be the one to present the ballot.

Voters cannot drop off their mail-in ballots at their polling place

Voters who cannot get their mail-in ballot to the county election office in time may request a provisional ballot at their polling place. This ballot will be counted once election officials confirm they did not receive that voter’s mail-in ballot.

Tom Shortell covers transportation and county government in the Lehigh Valley for The Morning Call. He’s previously covered the Slate Belt, Northampton County Court, Jersey City, NJ and the Jersey Shore. A graduate of St. Bonaventure University, Shortell will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.