PennLive/The Patriot News: An Election Day like never before: Mail-in balloting, new voting machines, multi-day counts for Pa.’s primary

It’s going to be an election like we’ve never had in a year we’ll never forget.

Many Pennsylvanians have already voted by mail for the first time; others will be voting on new machines for the first time; and – importantly – no one’s likely to have final results for several days after the polls close. …

Fortunately, it’s also a primary election with a manageable number of races. So while the results will be very real for the candidates who are seeking these offices, in a way you might be able to look at next week’s vote as one giant, and badly needed, statewide dress rehearsal for the mother of all elections next fall.

“We know that there are going to be issues on June 2nd,” said Suzanne Almeida, interim executive director of Common Cause PA, citing instances in which county offices have sent out duplicate mail-in ballots, or even the wrong political party’s primary ballot; the massive consolidation of polling places in places like Philadelphia; and the use of new machines in many places.

“The way that we’re looking at this is really that we we will have a lot of clarity after June 2nd about what needs to be fixed for November,” Almeida said. “And we’re hoping we can come up with some really clear, practical solutions… to make sure that no voter is disenfranchised in November.” …

One more note. If you are not getting an answer to your specific questions from your local county voter registration office, Common Cause’s Almeida noted anyone with an issue can call the nonpartisan “Election Protection Hotline” where volunteers will be able to answer their questions.

English-speaking voters can call 866-OUR-VOTE for assistance now between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on June 2. Help is also available in Spanish (888-VE-Y-VOTA), Arabic (844-YALLA-US) and Asian languages (888-API-VOTE).