News Flash

Uniontown, PA - With the 2021 Pennsylvania Primary Election approaching, the Fayette County Election Bureau will begin sending out mail-in and absentee ballots this week. 

According to Election Bureau Director Larry Blosser, ballots will be sent to those residents who registered online to receive a mail-in or absentee ballot.

“If they received that notification, they will get their ballot shortly,” Blosser said. “There’s no need to reapply multiple times, because having duplicates in our system just slows down the process.” 

Blosser also said constituents who applied to receive a “permanent” mail-in or absentee ballot in 2020 should have received an email notification February 1, reminding them to renew for 2021. 

“Permanent” status must be registered on a yearly basis, with those voters currently registered slated to automatically receive mail-in or absentee ballots for all 2021 elections (primary, general and any special). Those who received the subsequent email notification stating their application was successfully processed will receive their ballots shortly.  

Blosser wants to remind voters that “COVID-19” cannot be listed as a valid reason for obtaining an absentee ballot, but can be listed as a valid reason for voting via mail-in ballot. Voters should be sure they are choosing the right option for their situation. 

You can help streamline the 2021 Primary Election process by remembering:

• Election Day is May 18. All mail-in and absentee ballots must be received by the Fayette County Election Bureau by 8 p.m. that day.
• The last day to register to vote in the primary is May 3.
• The last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot is May 11.
• Polls are open for those voting in person from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
• If you receive a mail-in or absentee ballot, you can choose to hand-deliver it to the Election Bureau at 22 East Main Street in Uniontown.
• You may not hand-deliver someone else’s ballot.
• Your mail-in ballot must be sealed in the internal secrecy envelope, as federally mandated, or it will be considered a “naked ballot” and thereby invalidated.
• You can find more information and perform many election-related actions online at www.fayettecountypa.org/230/electionbureau. 
• You can register to vote, check your voter status and much more at www.votespa.com.   

“Bear in mind that we are dealing with an extremely high volume of mail-in and absentee ballots,” Blosser said. “We ask that everyone be patient, as our staff is working diligently to get everything accomplished.” 

For more information, call the Fayette County Election Bureau at 724-430-1289.

To learn more about Fayette County, visit www.FayetteCountyPA.org.

Editor's Note: Photo attached (Fayette County Election Bureau)
 A Fayette County Election Bureau employee prepares mail-in and absentee ballots for distribution in the days before the 2021 Pennsylvania Primary Election.

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This communication is part of the Fayette County PR Initiative, which is funded through the Fayette County Local Share Account (LSA) and Hotel Tax Grants in cooperation with the Fayette County Board of Commissioners, Fayette Chamber of Commerce, The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Fayette, The Redstone Foundation and other partners. This funding has been designated for the continued promotion and marketing of Fayette County, PA.

For more information, contact Kristi Rooker Kassimer, Public Relations Specialist, at 412-691-0262, kkassimer@fayettecountypa.info or Kaylie Moore, Community Relations Coordinator, at 724-430-1200 Ext. 1611, kmoore@fayettepa.org.