(WHTM) - Some Pennsylvania counties are sending envelopes for mail ballots with a hole punch.
The modification is designed to allow election workers to see whether the inner secrecy envelope is inside, a requirement for mail voters.
People voting by mail in Dauphin and Bucks counties were among those who received the hole punched envelopes, while Schuylkill County ballots did not appear to have the hole punch.
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An official Pennsylvania ballot return envelope is seen, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pa. (AP Photo/Michael Rubinkam) ![]()
DOYLESTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Director of the Board of Elections Tyler Burns holds a test ballot during a mail-in ballot processing demonstration at the Board of Elections office on September 30, 2024 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Absentee and mail-in ballot processing begins in Pennsylvania at 7am on Election Day according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. (Photo by Hannah Beier/Getty Images) ![]()
DOYLESTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 30: In this photo illustration, mail-in ballots are displayed during a processing demonstration at the Board of Elections office on September 30, 2024 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Absentee and mail-in ballot processing begins in Pennsylvania at 7am on Election Day according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. (Photo illustration by Hannah Beier/Getty Images) ![]()
DOYLESTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Director of the Board of Elections Tyler Burns holds a test ballot during a mail-in ballot processing demonstration at the Board of Elections office on September 30, 2024 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Absentee and mail-in ballot processing begins in Pennsylvania and at 7 am on Election Day according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. (Photo by Hannah Beier/Getty Images) ![]()
DOYLESTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 30: In this photo illustration, a mail-in ballot is displayed during a processing demonstration at the Board of Elections office on September 30, 2024 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Absentee and mail-in ballot processing begins in Pennsylvania at 7am on Election Day according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. (Photo illustration by Hannah Beier/Getty Images)
In Pennsylvania, counties run their own elections and have the ability to create their own rules regarding "curing" ballots that may have an error. Counties also have the choice on how many mail ballot drop boxes there are available.
abc27 reached out to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, who oversees the state's election process, for comment on the envelopes however he was not available for an interview.
Dauphin County announced last Friday that they've begun to send more than 26,000 mail ballots to those who requested them for the November 5 election. On Wednesday the county's Bureau of Registration & Elections acknowledged that some of the secrecy envelopes were arriving pre-sealed due to "excessive moisture in the air caused by the continued rainfall in our region over the past week."
If you receive one of these yellow secrecy envelopes and it's already sealed, the county says you can "open the envelopes as neatly as possible, insert your ballot into the yellow privacy envelope and close with tape. Next, place the yellow privacy envelope in the outer envelope and seal with tape. This will keep ballots sealed and secure."
Dauphin County voters with questions can contact the Bureau of Registration and Elections at (717) 780-6360.
The last day to register to vote is October 21, the last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot is October 29, and ballots must be returned to your county Board of Election by 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 5.