Bucks County Board Of Elections Advises Residents Of Confusing Mailers From Groups

April 22, 2022

The Bucks County Board of Elections wants voters to know about confusing mailers distributed to some residences.

In past elections, mailers from the Voter Participation Center and Center for Voter Information (VPC/CVI) have caused confusion among the public. The mailers have previously featured official-looking packets with a genuine voter registration form and envelope to submit the completed voter registration document.

The Meadville Tribune in Western Pennsylvania reported in 2020 that the Center for Voter Information is a nonpartisan group that helps registered unregistered voters like “young people, unmarried women, and people of color.”

County officials said they have received calls from confused residents about the mailings in the past and want to avoid confusion this year.

“VPC/CPI is not affiliated with the county, and the Board of Elections plays no role in developing or distributing these items,” they said.

The primary election is Tuesday, May 17 and the general election is Tuesday, November 8.

Below is more information from the Bucks County Board of Elections:

Though some voter registration information is available to the public by request, mailings from VPC/CVI are often sent using outdated records containing the names of deceased people or people who have since registered at another address.

Based on information from the Pennsylvania Department of State, the county believes this election cycle’s mailings from VPC/CVI will be landing in some Bucks County mailboxes in the coming weeks. The mailings are expected to contain vote-by-mail applications and a “score” of voting habits.

Voters who receive mailings from these groups can request to opt out of their mailing lists by following the instructions on the letter, or by calling VPC at 866-377-7304, or CVI at 877-203-6551.

If you wish to receive a mail-in or absentee ballot and have already submitted an application, you should not send another. No matter how many applications a voter submits, they will be mailed only one ballot.

Voters can check the status of their ballots and applications at vote.pa.gov/mailballotstatus.

Bucks County voters with questions about their voter registration, the status of their mail-in or absentee ballot, or other elections-related issues may also contact the Bucks County Board of Elections Office at 215-348-6154.