BRADFORD CO., PA (WENY) -- Election Day is 20 days away and voters in Pennsylvania are returning their absentee and mail-in votes to their local Boards of Elections. In Bradford County, some changes were made regarding potential voter mistakes on mail-in ballots.

The county commissioners held a special meeting of the Election Board Wednesday to discuss and vote on three items regarding county changes to how defective or incomplete mail-in or absentee ballots are processed, once received by the board of elections.

"The three items on the agenda were specific to address the issue of curing in the state of Pennsylvania. Curing is a term used to correct a ballot flaw and a returned mail-in or absentee ballot... So what we're doing now, the first agenda item was to instruct our Elections Office that ballots that come in mail-in or absentee ballots where there's a flaw on the ballot, they're going to be labeled as canceled. Then, that voter can instead of all the process of curing, they will be able to cast a provisional ballot at their precinct to address that flawed ballot," said Chairman of the Bradford Co. Commissioners and Board of Elections, Daryl Miller.

To avoid an error on your mail-in ballot, there are a few steps to follow.

First, completed ballots need to be placed in the yellow envelope labeled 'Official Election Ballot' and seal it. Next, the 'Official Election Ballot' needs to be placed in the return envelope that's white and purple. Then, you need to sign and date the return envelope in the designated spot. Finally, you should mail-in your ballot as soon as possible or return it in person to the Board of Elections.

Miller said your vote will not count for the following reasons if there's something missing or wrong with the envelope.

"If they're missing a date, signature, or if there's not a secrecy envelope enclosed in the return envelope [it won't count]," said Miller.

If someone already mailed in their ballot and thinks there was a mistake, they should reach out to the county Elections Office to see if their ballot was canceled.

"They will be able to reach out to our Board of Elections office to determine if their ballot was canceled. They get an email from the Department of State stating what the situation is [and] they will be able to reach out to our Elections Office and find out what the actual determination is. They will be able to cast a provisional ballot if their ballot has been canceled by our Election Office," said Miller.

Pre-canvassing and canvassing of mail-in or absentee ballots can't take place until 7 a.m. on Election Day.

"We want to be sure the people have a right and we want to ensure the people have a right to vote, but with that comes a responsibility. Make sure that you follow the instructions and do what [they say] as far as signing and dating your ballot envelope, and making sure that your ballot envelope is enclosed in the secrecy envelope inside the return envelope before you return your mail-in or absentee ballot," said Miller.

Polls will open in Pennsylvania on Election Day (November 5th) at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

An application for a mail-in or absentee ballot must be received by the Board of Elections Office (in PA) by October 29th at 5 p.m.

To contact the Bradford Co. Board of Elections Office, please call (570) 265-1717 or email smithkorsr@bradfordcountypa.gov.