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In this Update:
Still Waiting to Receive Your Mail-In Ballot? Here Are Your OptionsAre you or a loved one still waiting to receive your mail-in ballot, but it’s not yet been delivered? Even if it’s not delivered in time, you still have two options to be able to cast your vote in Lancaster County for the General Election: 1) Any voter who requested a mail-in or absentee ballot prior to the Oct. 29 deadline but who has not yet received their ballot may go to the Lancaster County Board of Elections at 150 N Queen St, Suite 117, Lancaster PA 17603 (Chestnut Street entrance) to receive a replacement ballot. No duplicate ballots would be issued – the original ballot would be cancelled prior to a replacement being provided. PLEASE NOTE: not all counties in Pennsylvania are offering the option to receive a replacement ballot. I’m offering this information for Lancaster County only. If you have family and friends in other counties in Pennsylvania, they will need to contact the Board of Elections of their respective county to understand their options. 2) If you’ve applied for a mail-in ballot but are unable to make it to the Board of Elections office in these next few days, remember that you can still vote on Election Day at the polls. If you have received your mail-in or absentee ballot by then, don’t fill it out. Bring both the ballot and the external envelope (the envelope with the bar code and space for your signature) to your polling place to be spoiled, and you will be permitted to vote normally. If you have still not received your ballot by Nov. 5, you will be permitted to vote by provisional ballot, which will be counted so long as the county has not received another ballot in your name. If you’ve received your mail-in ballot but have not yet sent it in, I would strongly advise personally returning it to the office of the Board of Elections at 150 N Queen St, Suite 117, Lancaster PA 17603 (Chestnut Street entrance), rather than trying to mail the ballot back. Remember, in Pennsylvania all ballots must be received by the county Board of Elections prior to 8 p.m. on Election Day (no matter the postmark). Note: Unless you have official written authorization, state law forbids anyone other than you from turning in another person’s ballot. The Lancaster County Board of Elections is located at 150 N. Queen St. in Lancaster. (To enter, use the Chestnut St. entrance.) The elections office is open extra hours between now and Election Day to accommodate those returning completed mail-in ballots. Friday, Nov. 1: 8:30 a.m.- 8 p.m. If you have further questions, please contact the Lancaster County Board of Elections at 717-299-8293. For non-partisan information about the election and voting, visit my Voter FAQ webpage here. PA Families to Receive More Support Saving for the Future
Because of a bill we passed, families saving for educational expenses and costs for those with disabilities could soon have more support from their employers. A tax credit will encourage employers to contribute to their employees’ PA 529 College and Career Savings Program accounts and PA ABLE accounts. Beginning January 2025, employers will receive a 25% tax credit on matching employer contributions of up to $500 per employee per year. The law helps employers offer their employees a significant benefit so they can attract the best workers while receiving a financial incentive themselves. It supports Senate Republicans’ priorities of empowering Pennsylvania families and protecting Pennsylvania jobs. New Law Creates Rape Kit Tracking System
Having received unanimous support from the General Assembly, a bill to establish a statewide rape kit evidence tracking system is now law. Act 122 of 2024 allows survivors to track the status of their rape kits throughout the testing process, from collection to destruction. With this legislation, Pennsylvania joins 35 states and the District of Columbia that have already implemented rape kit tracking systems. It brings Pennsylvania into compliance with the Fairness for Rape Kit Backlog Survivors provision of the recent Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization. To comply with VAWA, the law provides a waiver for survivors who file untimely claims for compensation due to delays in rape kit testing. Survivors would not need to undergo an appeal process for consideration of this waiver. Discussing Student Smartphone Use in Schools
In October, I hosted a community conversation at Centerville Middle School in Lancaster about student smartphone use in schools. Approximately 50 constituents, including representatives from four different school districts from Lancaster and Berks counties, attended this “Back to School Night” event where they heard from a panel of experts and participated in a question-and-answer session on this incredibly important topic. Learn more about the panelists and view more photos from the event here. Bill Giving Parents Info About Student Tick Removal Now Law
Legislation giving parents the opportunity to access important information about their child’s health was approved by the Senate and is now law. It requires schools to notify a parent or guardian if a tick is removed from a student and provide the tick to them for testing. When discovering a tick on yourself, a family member, or a pet, it’s important to send it to the Pennsylvania Tick Research Lab at East Stroudsburg University. For free, the tick can be tested for common illnesses to provide you and your health care provider with valuable information about potential exposure. For more than a decade, Pennsylvania has had more cases of Lyme disease than any other state in the nation. While Lyme disease is reason enough to take precautions, ticks also carry a host of other illnesses with undesirable symptoms. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5
Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 5, and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you are in line by 8 p.m., you will be able to vote. If you would like to vote with a mail-in or absentee ballot, your county election office must receive it by Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 8 p.m. Track your ballot to confirm it was received. Any voter who originally requested to vote using a mail-in or absentee ballot but would now prefer to vote in person may do so. Bring the ballot and the envelope to surrender at the polls. If you don’t have those materials, you may vote using a provisional ballot. Call 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772) if you experience any issues. Visit my Voter FAQ webpage here for nonpartisan election information. Helping First Responders Access Needed Funding
Sens. Scott Martin, Chris Gebhard, and I, along with members from Lancaster County’s House of Representatives delegation recently held a First Responder Grant Seminar at the Lancaster Farm and Home Center. The seminar provided Lancaster County first responders – including fire, police, and EMS – with vital information about the funding opportunities available to them. Attendees listened to presentations from the PA Fire Commissioner, PA Department of General Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture, PA Fire and Emergency Services Institute, and PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Representatives from each of these agencies explained to attendees how they can assist fire, EMS, and police departments in obtaining funding for new equipment, building renovations, and other items needed to help keep our communities safe. View more photos from this event here. Recognizing Local Agriculture Advocate: Charley Lengel Kramer
Agriculture is Pennsylvania’s top industry, and Lancaster County is home to lots of farms that contribute to its vigor. I’m very proud that seven of the 21 Pennsylvania Farm Show Junior Committee members are from the 36th District, and I will be featuring each of them weekly so you’re able to see what a bright future we have with these young people at the helm. First, I would like to introduce you to Charley Lengel Kramer, who is serving on the committee for her first year. She has taken several agriculture classes and fell in love with livestock. Charley raised steers, goats, and pigs for 4H and FFA. She was elected as an officer in many of her clubs and also served as the Elizabethtown Fair Queen. Charley plans to continue her education to become a large animal veterinarian and use the skills and knowledge she has learned through her experiences to teach others about agriculture. Read more about the members of the PA Farm Show Junior Committee here. Share Your Experience Driving in Lancaster County on Nov. 12You have the opportunity to share your experience traveling around Lancaster County at an open house hosted by the Lancaster County MPO on Nov. 12, from 6-8 p.m. at the Lancaster County Public Safety Center, 101 Champ Blvd., Manheim. Residents’ suggestions and concerns will help shape the priorities for making Lancaster County’s roadways safer. The event will gather input for the upcoming Traffic Safety Action Plan; there will be a presentation at 6:20 p.m. If you cannot attend, you can learn more about the Traffic Safety Action Plan and take the online survey here. Time to Turn Clocks Back This Weekend
Daylight saving time will end at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, so Pennsylvania residents should turn their clocks back one hour before going to bed on Saturday night. Biannual time changes can be a great reminder to check or change the batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced every 10 years and located near bedrooms and on each level of the residence. Local Students Toured Our State CapitolLocal students from four different elementary schools recently toured the state Capitol building in Harrisburg to learn more about their state government and the history of this gorgeous building. You can enjoy a free tour by booking online.
J R Bonfield Elementary School
Kissel Hill Elementary School
John Beck Elementary School
Doe Run Elementary School
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