Montgomery County’s mail-in ballot pre-canvassing efforts are pictured on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Credit: Montgomery County).
More than 81,000 residents have submitted applications for mail-in ballots as preparations continue ahead of the 2025 general election, said Montgomery County Director of Elections Frank Dean.
Dean addressed the Montgomery County Board of Elections Thursday afternoon with just 41 days until the off-year election featuring a number of school board, local government and judgeship races.
Offering a status report, Dean said that ballot proofing had wrapped up and sample ballots were made available on the Montgomery County Office of Voter Services website.
“We anticipate giving our print vendor the go-ahead to start mailing mail ballots from the end of the day tomorrow,” Dean said, anticipating the mail-in ballots would reach constituents’ mailboxes by the middle of next week.
In addition, logic and accuracy testing is scheduled for Monday at the county’s voter warehouse, Dean said, with a public demonstration slated for that same day.
As voter services representatives have processed the more than 81,000 mail-in ballot applications, Dean reported they “do not have a backlog,” and have added that there’s “never been a better time to apply for your mail-in ballot.”
When asked about projected voter turnout rates, Dean said that “mail-in ballots are mirroring the numbers that we saw approximately 2 years ago.” He recalled 2023 figures “capped” at 91,000 mail-in ballots.
“I think we’re on track for a little bit less,” Dean said.
Those interested in casting their ballots have until Oct. 20 to register to vote and must request a mail-in ballot by 5 p.m. on Oct. 28, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State. All ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Satellite offices will open in Lansdale, Lower Merion Township, Pottstown, and Willow Grove, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 18, Oct. 19, Oct. 25, and Oct. 26. Voter services officials have listed a full schedule online, with assistance available at the following locations:
Lansdale: Montgomery County Community Connections Lansdale Office, 421 W. Main St., Lansdale
Lower Merion Township: Lower Merion Magisterial District Court, 925 Montgomery Ave., Narberth
Pottstown: Montgomery County Office of Public Health, 364 King St., Pottstown
Willow Grove: Willow Grove Annex, 102 N. York Road, Willow Grove
In addition, the Norristown satellite office at 425 Swede St. will be available seven days per week, according to Dean.
With respect to the election’s in-person component, Dean touted ongoing engagement efforts to secure enough people to help with operations. He noted that confirmations have taken place for more than 1,500 poll workers and 390 judges of elections. He added that 88 student poll workers will participate on Election Day. An extra training session will be held for those involved, Dean said.
Six polling places relocated
County election board members convened Thursday with a sole voting item concerning the relocation of six polling places in Cheltenham, Horsham, Lower Frederick, Montgomery, and Upper Dublin townships. The action was approved in a 2-1 vote with Commissioner Tom DiBello being the sole dissenting voice.
“I’m not going to support this. I personally think that we should do it at the beginning of the election cycle,” DiBello said.
“Yeah, I don’t disagree, but I think 30 days is plenty of time,” said Montgomery County Election Board Chairman Neil Makhija. With less than two months to go, he urged “let’s get those notices out ASAP.”
Reasons for the relocations ranged from returning to an original location to spacing and parking issues, Dean said, noting that voter identification cards and relevant postings would be made.
Of note, Lower Frederick 1, Lower Frederick Fire Company, 137 Spring Mount Road, Spring Mount, and Lower Frederick 2, Lower Frederick Township Building, 53 Spring Mount Road, Zieglerville, will both move to Perkiomen Valley Middle School West 220 Big Road, Zieglerville, according to documents.
“We are moving those because the existing spaces are inadequate for the voters that vote there as well as the poll workers. In one instance, I believe it was the fire company had also requested that we find alternate accommodations,” Dean said of the Lower Frederick locations.
Dean noted the local fire department “agreed that we’ve outgrown the space.” He added that while the space is “technically ADA accessible,” a different location would be more navigable for voters and poll workers alike.
“I support it,” Makhija said. “Especially, I think it’s important for us to explain to people that … it’s just more accessible at the new location and we should just make sure we put that out there and the day of sounds like you’ll have adequate staffing to redirect people if they feel they’re in the wrong place. That’s important.”
In Montgomery Township, the Montgomery 4 polling place returned to its original location more than a year after a March 2024 fire at the Village of Neshaminy Falls clubhouse, located at 195 Stump Road. Voting had been conducted at the Montgomery Township Community and Recreation Center, 1030 Horsham Road for the past few election cycles.
Additionally, Cheltenham 5-1 will move from Gratz College, 7605 Old York Road, Melrose Park, to Myers Elementary School 7609 Montgomery Ave., Elkins Park; Horsham 1-2 will move from Keith Valley Middle School, 227 Meetinghouse Road, Horsham to Bux-Mont Baptist Church, 309 W. County Line Road, Hatboro; and Upper Dublin 6-1 will move from Supplee Presbyterian Church, 855 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, to Temple Sinai Synagogue 1401 Limekiln Pike, Dresher.
“As soon as any location is changed we press print on the voter ID cards and start mailing them out the next day,” Dean said. “We also post the existing location to let people in the area know and we post it on Election Day so if anyone were to go to the firehouse on Election Day, they would be directed to the middle school.”
DiBello expressed some reservations about the location switches as it “could have confusion” for voters, and instead “recommend[ed] that when we’re moving poll locations for reasons like that we try to do it pre-primary so that it’s for the year.”
Visit montcovotes.com for more information about the 2025 general election in Montgomery County.
