Washington County Director of Elections Melanie Ostrander says that preparations for Election Day on November 4 are well underway. Mail in ballots that have so far been requested are now in the mail. Tests on voting equipment are now complete and machines have been registered. All machines have been sealed and are now ready for delivery to polling locations. Ostrander says that all mail in ballots will be treated strictly by the rules set down by the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court and the United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals. The PA Supreme Court says that signatures are required, but if an envelope is returned without a signature, that ballot is to be marked in the state SURE system as received no signature and an email sent to the voter alerting them that they may vote provisionally at their regular polling location. The US Third Circuit Court of Appeals says that dates are not a disqualifying factor. Ostrander says that decisions could change on short notice and they monitor those possible changes daily. Ostrander outlined upcoming deadline dates. October 20 is the last day to register or make changes in voter registration. October 28 is the last day to request absentee or mail in ballots. All mail in ballots must be in the elections office by 8 PM on Election Day. And, Election Day is November 4. Polls open at 7 AM and close at 8 PM.