Gov. Tom Wolf speaks to reporters Monday evening in Philadelphia, where he was touring parts of the city damaged during the weekend’s protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
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Updated: 2020-06-01 22:21:00
Wolf order aims to give mail-in ballots an extra week to arrive at elections offices
Just six counties are affected: Erie, Allegheny, Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware and Dauphin; ballots still must be postmarked by tomorrow (June 2).
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Emily Previti/PA Post
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Gov. Tom Wolf speaks to reporters Monday evening in Philadelphia, where he was touring parts of the city damaged during the weekend’s protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
PHILADELPHIA – Gov. Tom Wolf announced Monday that the deadline in six counties for mail-in ballots for the June 2 primary election to arrive at county election offices will be extended by one week.
Voters must still fill out and mail their ballots by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2. The extension is designed to give the postal service additional time to deliver ballots to election offices.
Wolf’s executive order applies only to Erie, Allegheny, Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware and Dauphin counties where he’s declared a state of emergency in response to protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, according to a statement from the governor’s office released Monday night.
“Curfews, travel restrictions and other unforeseen circumstances have made returning ballots more difficult in these counties,” Wolf said in the release.
Wolf made the initial extension announcement (with few details such as its limited application) from Philadelphia, where he was touring parts of the city damaged during the weekend’s protests. The seven-day extension, he said, is necessary in part because of the disruption caused by protests and violence in cities across the commonwealth.
“I can’t do anything about the Election Day, but I am extending the time to actually get votes in,” Wolf said.
Last week, Wolf said he wouldn’t use his executive powers to move the deadline. Only the legislature can do so, he said at the time.
Republicans in the state General Assembly saying they were “not consulted or advised” of the order and are exploring possible legal actions to challenge it.
“Free and fair elections mean that one person cannot change the rules at the 11th hour,” the statement read.
Editor’s note: This is a developing story. More information will be added as we get it.
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