Pennsylvania to Roll Out New Provisional Ballot Envelopes

The Pennsylvania Department of State has introduced redesigned provisional ballot envelopes to reduce rejection rates and improve the voting experience statewide. The new design includes clearer instructions and prominent signature fields, addressing the 29% rejection rate for provisional ballots in the November 2024 election, which often resulted from incomplete forms. These changes were developed collaboratively with county election officials, following a 2023 mail ballot redesign that cut mail ballot rejections by 57%. The redesigned envelopes are expected to be implemented statewide for the 2025 general election, with grants available to help counties cover replacement costs. Officials stress that such updates are crucial for boosting voter participation and ensuring more eligible votes are counted. Provisional ballots are used for voters with eligibility questions, and the redesign aims to simplify the process for both voters and poll workers.