1600 Peninsula Drive

(814) 636-5051

OPEN:

Mon 12-6pm

Tues 3-6PM

Wed – Fri 12-3pm

Saturday April 23rd 10am-2pm

1st, 3rd & 5th Saturday each month 10am-2pm

Mail-in Ballot Tips

It is crucial that you return your ballot as soon as you can to ensure your vote is counted.

Did you know …

  • You can vote early in-person at the Courthouse weeks before Election Day!  And it only takes about 15 minutes!
  • Once your ballot is returned, all those annoying election robo calls and junk mail stop!

Here are some tips to help you avoid common mistakes and ensure that your vote is counted:

Step 1: Read the instructions carefully and mark your ballot. Be sure to complete the front and back of the ballot.

Step 2: Seal your ballot inside the inner secrecy envelope (the smaller one that has Official Election Ballot written on it). Do not make any marks on the inner secrecy envelope. Your ballot MUST be sealed inside the inner secrecy envelope or it will not be counted.

Step 3: Seal the inner secrecy envelope in the pre-addressed, postage-paid outer return envelope. Complete, sign, and date the voter’s declaration on the outside of the outer return envelope. If you do not sign and date below the declaration on the return envelope, your ballot will not be counted!

Step 4: Return your voted ballot to the County Elections Office. Absentee and Mail-in Ballots MUST be received by 8pm on November 7th at the Elections Office to be counted. Postmarks do not count.

  • To ensure your ballot is received by the deadline, return the ballot as soon as possible.
  • The most secure way to return your ballot is to hand-deliver it anytime before 8pm on Election Day to the Erie County Elections Office in the County Courthouse (located at 140 West 6th St) or put it in the drop box located outside the front of the Courthouse.
  • If using the postal service, mail your ballot no later than Wednesday, November 1st to ensure that it arrives on time.
  • If you have a disability and need help returning your ballot, you can designate someone to deliver your ballot using the form found here.
  • If you change your mind and want to vote in person on Election Day, just bring your mail-in ballot and the outer postage-paid return envelope with you and turn it in to vote at your polling place. If you are missing either of these pieces, you will still be able to vote by provisional ballot.

You can check the status of your mail-in application and ballot here to ensure they have been received and processed by the County Board of Elections.

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