Meets the Challenges of
Upcoming June 2 Primary Election

Conducting an election in the shadow of a global pandemic is quite a challenge, but the folks at the Lycoming County Voter Services are meeting that challenge. They have outlined for Webb Weekly what procedures they and voters will follow when conducting and voting in this election held under very unique circumstances.

“COVID-19 has required a weeks-long effort to verify availability of polling place facilities and change one facility; verify availability of poll workers and recruit replacements eight precincts; procure protective equipment and supplies for all 81 precincts; and develop new guidance, policies, and procedures for poll workers and voters to follow on Election Day,” Forest Lehman, Lycoming County Director of Elections and Registration, told Webb Weekly.

He added, “Voters have embraced mail-in voting, but counties across the state are struggling to handle the volume. We needed to contract with an outside company to manage our print/mail service; we needed to purchase new letter-opening equipment, and we needed to build a new, higher throughput ballot canvassing operation.”

The general information about Primary Election Day, June 2 includes:

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day at all 81 election precincts in Lycoming County,

The list of polling place sites is available at Voter Services website (https://www.lyco.org/Departments/Voter-Services).

One polling place has been temporarily relocated for June 2. Loyalsock Township 2nd precinct will vote at the Loyalsock Community Recreation Center at 1607 Four Mile Drive, instead of at St. Ann’s Catholic Church.

There will be various in-person safety precautions taken at the polling places.

In-person voting will look different on June 2. We are implementing additional health and safety precautions to minimize risk to voters and poll workers who are voting in person.

Polling places will have fewer voting areas set up and will accommodate fewer voters at a time to promote social distancing and limit overall occupancy.

You can expect longer lines that extend outdoors during peak voting periods.

Voters are urged to wear a mask and bring their own pen.

Hand sanitizer will be available at all precincts. Voters are urged to use hand sanitizer after entering the polling place and before interacting with the poll workers.

Please respect the poll workers, who are making democracy work under challenging circumstances.
The procedure for voting by mail is as follows

Voting by mail is a lawful alternative to voting in person on Election Day.

Any voter who does not wish to vote in person on June 2 may apply for an absentee ballot or a mail-in ballot to vote at home and return to Voter Services.

Absentee ballots are for voters who cannot vote in person due to work/school/medical. Mail-in ballots are for all other voters who wish to vote by mail.

Ballots are due at Voter Services by 8 p.m. on Election Day (June 2). Postmarks don’t count for that either.

As we run out of time on the calendar, voters will need to complete some or all steps of this process in person at Voter Services. You can come in to get an application, submit the application, or pick up, vote, or drop off your ballot in person.
Election Night Results

Election Night results are posted on the county website, and statewide results will appear on the Pennsylvania Department of State website. Results start around 8:30 p.m. and update until all 81 precincts are in.

Election Night results are unofficial. They will include all votes cast in-person at the 81 precincts. They may include some or all of the votes cast by mail, depending on how many we are able to open and scan during the day and into the evening.

Election Night results do not include ballots cast by military voters or overseas civilians, which can come in up to seven days after the election. They do not include provisional ballots cast on Election Day, which may or may not be counted depending on the circumstances surrounding each ballot. They may not include some or all of the votes cast by mail.

Voter Services will complete an Official Count of the votes about ten days after the election. The Official Results will include everything.

We at Webb Weekly urge you to get out and vote! People have fought and died for your right to vote, and there are people across the world who are denied this precious right.