Pennsylvania Absentee Voters Get More Time

Congratulations, there is a silver lining. Hurricane Sandy has pushed back the clocks, at least when it comes to the state's absentee voters.

According to reports on philly.com, Gov. Tom Corbett has extended the deadline for Pennsylvania's absentee voters to get in their votes. Originally set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, the new timed deadline is now pushed back to Thursday at 5 p.m.

Corbett gave voters each day back that the county offices were closed due to Hurricane Sandy.

In order to file for an absentee vote, a voter must show up in person at the county's election offices. Those in Montgomery County should visit the County Courthouse in Norristown.

The absentee application is available by clicking here. It will download as a pdf file, so you will need Adobe Reader. A free copy is available for download on the voter site. It can also be picked up at municipal offices, libraries and the state liquor stores in each town of Montgomery County.

Absentee voters can also ask for one on the spot, fill it out and return it all in one visit. They will be unable to mail their ballots later, according to reports.

"It will be too late to use that extended deadline to send an absentee ballot through the mail, because Corbett said he was not extending the Friday deadline for completed absentee ballots to arrive at county election offices," said the philly.com article.

Federal law defines those eligible for absentee ballots as anyone unable to physically attend their usual election day polling place. 

"An individual who expects to be absent from his/her municipality on Election Day during the entire period the polls are open for voting (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.) is eligible to apply for an absentee ballot," said the Montgomery County Voter Services website. "In addition, any voter who, because of illness or physical disability, is unable to attend his/her polling place or to operate a voting machine can apply for an absentee ballot."

For more information on absentee voting, visit the Montgomery County Voter Services website or call 610-278-3275.