Announcements & Highlights

The Dauphin County Commissioners unveiled general election plans and preparations – including changes of three poll place locations – at a public meeting on Sept. 21.

Among the updates provided by Dauphin County’s Bureau of Registration and Elections:

• Three poll places will be relocated due to the inability to continue using previous locations;
• Nearly 20,000 mail-in/absentee ballots are expected to start arriving in mailboxes later this week;
• On Sept. 26, ballot drop boxes are to be stationed outside the county building at 2 South Second Street in Harrisburg, and inside the Northern Dauphin Human Services Center in Elizabethville;
• On Oct. 17, the elections office at 1251 S. 28th, Harrisburg, will begin extended hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.).

“Dauphin County continues to lead the way in our preparations for Election Day,” County Commissioner Chair Mike Pries said. “There are so many changes and mandates to adapt to, and our elections staff and volunteers never fail to keep up.”

On November 8, voters can return voted mail-in/absentee ballots up until 8 p.m. at the two drop boxes and the county elections office. Polling places for in-person voting are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“Our elections team will make sure all impacted voters know where to vote,” Commissioner Chad Saylor said. “We would not be moving poll place locations unless we absolutely had to.”

Commissioner George P. Hartwick, III credited elections staff and the approximately 1,200 volunteers who help provide a fair and free election process.

“We run efficient, direct, and fair elections – and every vote is counted,” Hartwick said.

Bureau of Registration and Elections Director Jerry Feaser told the commissioners the poll place changes are being undertaken by necessity.

The Election Board approved the following poll place changes:

 Harrisburg City’s 9th Ward, 1st Precinct: Summit Terrace Neighborhood Association, 1228 Bailey St., Harrisburg. The current polling place location, Mount Pleasant Fire House, is not ADA compliant and is just outside the district.

 Harrisburg City’s 9th Ward, 2nd Precinct: St. Francis Soup Kitchen, 1459 Zarker St., Harrisburg. The current location, Hamilton Health Center, recently underwent improvements to their building to better serve their clients. The soup kitchen is next to the health center.

Lower Paxton Township’s 3rd Precinct: Devonshire Church, 5630 Devonshire Road, Harrisburg. Paxtonia Fire Company recently sold their social hall which was the area utilized as a polling place, and the new owner will be using this space in such a way that it will no longer be viable as a polling site. Devonshire Church is in the district, has ample parking and voting facilities.

Voters in these districts will be mailed new voter ID cards alerting them to the change, and postcard reminders will be mailed closer to election day.

Voters who have not yet applied for a mail-in/absentee ballot may process an over-the-counter ballot at the Dauphin County Registration and Elections office at 1251 S 28th St., Harrisburg, starting Sept. 26.

According to Pennsylvania election law, voters may only return their own ballot. You may not return someone else’s voted ballot, even if it is for a spouse or family member.

Additionally, the board of commissioners reminds voters of the following important deadlines:

• The last day to register to vote is Oct. 24.
• The last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot is Nov. 1.
• Election Day is Nov. 8.

For more information about voting in Dauphin County, including samples for all 159 precinct election day ballots, go to DauphinCounty.gov and click the “Registration & Elections” tab, or call 717-780-6360.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brett Hambright, Press Secretary, 717-780-6311; bhambright@dauphincounty.gov