The original item was published from October 6, 2020 9:24 AM to January 8, 2021 9:28 AM
There have been two consistent topics that the Township hammers home to its residents centered around the need to be recognized through two of the most important aspects of a democracy.
Those two items, the 2020 Census and the 2020 General Election, have been the subjects of much communication from the Township to our residents. Rest assured, once both are completed, we will start all over again for the next time.
But as we are now under one month until Election Day, allow me to shout from the rooftops how passionate we are about voting.
For decades the Board of Supervisors has spoken about the importance of voting. Voting drives public policy and, frankly, the attention our community deserves from higher levels of government. High voter participation goes a long way to gain the attention of those elected officials and, in turn, they are more responsive to Cranberry Township’s issues.
Although it is the General Assembly and Governor who set the laws governing elections in the Commonwealth, the challenging task of implementing the voting process lays with County Bureau of Elections. For decades our Township Supervisors have consistently stood in support of the Butler County Bureau of Elections by providing facilities on the day of voting, education outreach and training facilities for poll workers.
COVID-19 has created even more challenges to achieving high voter turnout. Fortunately, the Commonwealth has provided new ways to vote, from traditional in-person voting to mail-in ballots, along with absentee ballots.
During this challenging COVID pandemic, the Township pledges to work with the County Bureau of Elections to provide safe facilities for in-person voting, as well as help communicate to our residents about mail-in options.
If you select a mail-in option, please, request it early and send the completed ballot to the County Bureau of Elections EARLY. If you select a mail-in option and your completed ballot is received late, you will have failed to perform one of your most important tasks in a democracy.
To find information about different voting options, please visit votespa.com/Voting-in-PA/Pages/Mail-and-Absentee-Ballot.aspx. Remember, the final day to register to vote is Monday, October 19.
Additionally, mail-in and absentee ballot applications must be received by the county election office by 5 p.m. Tuesday, October 27.
Want to help on Election Day by being a Poll Worker? Please visit butlercountypa.gov/176/Poll-Workers.
Please, get involved however you can, and be sure to cast your vote in whatever way is most comfortable for you. It is one of the greatest duties we all have as residents of this wonderful country.
Thoughts? Feedback? Questions? Contact me at jerry.andree@cranberrytownship.org.