Six Easy-to-Implement Best Practices for Residential Voting
Are you aware of the Employee Best Practices for Voting in Senior Facilities? Discover six easy-to-implement best practices that won’t leave you and your residents scrambling during election season.
With the demands of running a senior facility, election day can sneak up on you, leaving staff scrambling to put a resident voting plan in place. Without a plan that incorporates best practices, residents who wish to vote may face barriers, and more vulnerable residents may lack necessary safeguards.
Implementing policies that incorporate these best practices helps reduce barriers and protect more vulnerable residents.
- It is illegal to request a mail-in ballot or assist a non-disabled resident marking their ballot.
- A disabled voter may designate an agent using this form, Authorize Designated Agent Form
- It is illegal in Pennsylvania to turn in someone else’s mail-in ballot unless you are their designated agent.
- If the disabled voter cannot clearly express their free choice, the designated agent should NOT mark a ballot.
- Ballots should never be handed to an outside organization. It is ILLEGAL!
- Always have a witness while handling ballots, be aware of the facility’s chain of custody, and keep copies of Designated Agent Forms on hand.
Reviewing the 2026 Pennsylvania Voting Assistance Legal Guide and implementing the Employee Best Practices for Voting in Senior Facilities will prevent last-minute hassles, remove unintentional obstacles to voting, and ensure safeguards are in place to protect residents.
Employee Best Practices for Voting in Senior Facilities
Please contact Laura Williams, OTR/L, National Training Coordinator, with any inquiries at: Laura.Williams@CenterForVulnerableVoters.org
Disclaimer: This information is being provided for educational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. You should always consult an attorney before taking action to ensure that recent changes in law have not altered your obligations.
