Sec. Al Schmidt: How Pa. is working to ensure free, fair, safe and secure elections

When I became Secretary of the Commonwealth, I vowed to visit all 67 county election offices to hear firsthand about the challenges they face when running elections.

Although I ran elections in Philadelphia for 10 years as a city commissioner, I knew that other counties face far different challenges, and no two counties are alike. For example, in Philadelphia, a staff of about 125 people administer elections. But some rural counties may have only one or two employees to register county residents to vote; manage the mail ballot process; test the voting equipment; assign polling locations for Election Day; and tabulate, audit, and certify the results.

As the April 23 Pennsylvania primary approaches, I'm about halfway through my tour of the counties. I've been impressed with what I've seen so far. Pennsylvania is truly fortunate to have such dedicated county election staff who are committed to ensuring that every eligible voter can cast their ballot and make their voice heard in every election.

Unfortunately, these public servants' jobs are made much more difficult by the proliferation of incorrect information and falsehoods about elections. We live in an era where anyone anywhere can click a button and instantly share content without verifying its accuracy. And sometimes the mis- and disinformation can lead to intimidation and threats of violence against election workers.

That means Pennsylvanians must be astute consumers of election information and rely on accurate sources, such as:

• the Department of State's voter information website, vote.pa.gov,

• the department's year-round voter hotline, 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772), which provides interpretation services in more than 200 languages,

• your county election office website.

I'm a member of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), which has a nonpartisan public education initiative — #TrustedInfo2024 — that highlights the importance of always getting credible election information directly from election officials. As NASS points out, you wouldn't visit a dentist for car trouble or a hair salon for an eye exam.

On my tour, I'm assuring these essential front-line workers in our representative democracy that help is on the way.

Because the Shapiro Administration is committed to free, fair, safe, and secure elections, the Pennsylvania Department of State recently launched the following:

• An election threats task force with local, state, and federal partners working together to mitigate threats to the election process, protect voters and election staff from intimidation, and provide voters with accurate, trusted election information.

• A voter education initiative to inform Pennsylvanians of key election-related dates and deadlines and to urge them to consider serving as poll workers in their community.

• A new training program, led by a former county election director, to provide county election staff with the tools they need to ensure smooth elections.

• Redesigned mail ballot materials with clearer instructions for voters.

Now it's time for eligible Pennsylvanians to do their part — to turn out to vote in the April 23 primary election. Remember, it's not just presidential candidates on the ballot. Voters also will be selecting their party's nominees for a U.S. Senate seat; for the U.S. House of Representatives; for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives; for Pennsylvania Senate seats in odd-numbered districts; for state attorney general, treasurer, and auditor general; and for delegates to the Republican and Democratic national conventions.

Even if you are not registered in a political party, there may be a special election or ballot question in your community. You can find out by going to a trusted source: your county's election office.

The deadline to register to vote in the primary is April 8 in Pennsylvania. In Erie County, however, that deadline has been extended to April 9 due to the April 8 solar eclipse. Large crowds are expected to converge on Erie, which is in the path of eclipse totality, and Erie County Courthouse offices, including the Elections and Voter Registration department, will be closed. The deadline to apply for a mail ballot is April 16, and completed mail ballots must be received by your county election board by 8 p.m. Election Day, April 23. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day for in-person voting.

You can check or update your voter registration status, apply for a mail ballot, locate your county election office and polling place, watch a demonstration of your county’s voting system, and find any other election-related information you need at vote.pa.gov.

More: As Erie braces for large crowds, Erie County Courthouse will now close on day of eclipse

More: Erie County Council extends voter registration deadline due to April 8 solar eclipse

Stay up to date by following the Department of State's official social media accounts on Facebook, X, Threads, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

And if I haven't visited your county yet, I'll see you soon.

Al Schmidt is secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Sec. Al Schmidt outlines Pa. election deadlines, security measures