(WHTM) – The deadline to request a mail ballot in Pennsylvania was 5 p.m. on April 16 with the primary a week away.

Chances are, if you requested a mail ballot you’re a registered Democrat. Republicans are trying to reverse that and the state is trying to reduce the number of disqualifying mistakes.

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This Week in Pennsylvania

This year there are new instructions that come with graphics in your mail ballot packet. Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt says the state hopes this will “help reduce voter confusion.”

Schmidt released a “how to” video on Tuesday using his inner teacher’s voice showing voters how to properly return a ballot to ensure their vote is counted.

“Voters must place their signature and the current date month day in the last two digits of the year on the outer declaration envelope.”

Former Dauphin County Elections Director Jerry Feaser says he’s still hearing that people are not following instructions. One issue is voters crossing out the pre-filled “20” for the year and putting their birthdate, another is people not signing their ballots.

“If you don’t follow the instructions, we cannot count your ballot,” said Feaser.

Republicans are working to reverse recent trends and encouraging their voters to vote by mail.

“It’s a massive effort, probably the largest, I think, undertaken by Republicans in the state of Pennsylvania,” said Max Docksey, the political director for the DC-based Republican State Leadership Committee. They’ve sent scores of mail-in ballot applications to registered Republicans.

“Informing our voters that it is safe, it is secure, and it is a very effective and convenient way to cast your vote in the state of Pennsylvania,” said Docksey.

Republicans have been hesitant to vote by mail after GOP lawmakers, namely Donald Trump, repeatedly repudiated them.

As of 8 a.m. on April 15, 887,473 mail ballots have been requested, nearly 73% of which were requested by Democrats. Republicans so far have requested 400,000 fewer mail ballots this time around and have dug themselves a big hole going into the general election.

“Now, look, I’m not going to litigate, you know, what Republicans have said in the past, we need to be looking forward as an organization,” said Docksey. “I think we need to be looking forward as a party. The rules are the rules. And right now we need to compete on the playing field as it stands.”

As of Monday morning, just 36% of mail ballots have been returned to county boards of election. Voters have until 8 p.m. on April 23 to have their ballot arrive at their county. Postmarks are not enough to have your vote count.

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