N-Town / Montco Polling Locations, Sample Ballots, Etc.

Only 2 weeks until the election. Here's some Montgomery County information you might need. I'll do a few more election blogs before the big event and I'll repeat the vital stuff. But please, pass the info along to your friends, relatives and neighbors.

You can find your polling location and other voting info at this link.  The photo below shows the Norristown locations, too. One change from last time: if you live in 2-3 and voted at St. Pat's last time, you'll be voting at Gotwals School this time.

Your sample ballot can be found at this website. Find your town on the list, then click on your district.

Some folks are asking about poll watchers and rigged elections in our state. Poll watchers MUST register before election day at the Courthouse, and only a limited number can observe one polling location at a time. On election day, they must NEVER interfere with any voter or the voting process. Here's a video Daulphin County put together that explains the rules regarding pollwatchers in PA. If anyone tries to interfere with your right to vote on November 8, report that person to the Judge of Elections at your polling place. Any election official in the polling place can point you to the Judge of Elections. Don't let anyone stop you from voting.

As for election fraud, I've only seen one case so far, and that's a message being sent around social media saying that Pennsylvania now has online voting and giving texting instructions to "vote for Hillary." This is a lie. There is NO online voting in PA. You must go to the polls to vote. If we ever do get online voting, I guarantee that it won't be that easy or informal.

As for the claim that people will vote many times, most election officials live in the local neighborhood and know people by sight (the clerk in 3-3, I swear, knows everyone in the ward by name). They will also cover the signature on file as you sign so you can't see to forge the writing. First-time voters or voters who've changed districts since the primary will be asked for photo ID (it will be printed under your name in the book if you need to present ID or take other action, so don't feel the official is picking on you). Otherwise ID is NOT required and you won't be asked for it. Some people feel more comfortable presenting it. That's fine, too. If your name isn't in the book, the officials will ask questions to assure you're in the correct polling place (usually that's the problem). If it's not that simple, the Judge of Elections will call the courthouse to see if you're registered in the county and take other steps to solve the problem. No one can simply walk in and vote.

You may not wear political buttons inside the polling place or in any way visually campaign for a candidate. You'll be asked to remove the button until you go outside again.

You may not use your cell phone or other electronic devices inside the polling place. No selfies in the booth, no texting, no talking on phones, especially no taking photos of anyone else. NOTHING. Polling places preserve the privacy of every voter and need to assure that no one is intimidated by having their photo taken. Talking on phones distracts voters and officials. Please respect this rule ~ you're only inside (hopefully) a few minutes.

If you have questions, use the comment section below or ask me on Facebook and I'll cover the question in the next installment.