PA Dept. of State says absentee votes can be changed, but not though the phone
A Pennsylvania Department of State spokeswoman said the only way someone who voted by absentee ballot can change their choices is by showing up at the polls to vote in person on Nov. 8.
Wanda Murren, DOS press secretary, said the office started receiving phone calls from media outlets after a posting on Twitter appeared earlier this week from Dan Scavino, the director of social media for Republican Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
The tweet was in the form of a sign that reads, “Pennsylvania, Regret voting for Hillary? Want to Change Your Vote? Call (877) 868-3772.” Similar signs were posted for Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.
“They just gave the voter helpline number,” Murren said, adding she didn’t know how many phone calls were received either on that helpline or at her office.
The post was retweeted 5,756 times as of Thursday morning.
Murren stressed that changing an absentee ballot can be done, but not through a phone call.
“If someone wants to change their vote, they need to show up to vote in person on Election Day and that will void their absentee ballot,” Murren said.
Absentee ballots are ways for people to vote prior to Election Day and are normally cast by deployed members of the military, students attending school out of state, individuals with illnesses or disabilities or voters who will be away from their municipalities on business during Election Day.
Another way to void an absentee ballot is to request another one; however, the deadline to do that was Tuesday.
Murren said absentee ballots must physically be at the appropriate county election bureau by the end of the day today to be valid. Locally, election bureaus will be open until 5 p.m. today to accept them.