Pennsylvania's Democratic and Republican primaries are weeks away, with pivotal races for governor, U.S. senator, and more on the ballot. 

Nearly 800,000 voters have asked to cast their ballots by mail — an option available to all voters for any reason since 2020.

But how a mail ballot is filled out can determine whether or not it's counted. The same goes for when and where it's returned.

Spotlight PA has an easy-to-use guide on the dos and don'ts.

THE CONTEXT: The fate of no-excuse mail voting is in the hands of the state Supreme Court, which is weighing an appeal of a lower court ruling that tossed the law after a group of Republican lawmakers — many of whom voted for it — argued that the way it passed was unconstitutional.

The law remains in effect, though, pending the high court's ruling. That means voting by mail remains available to all.

For those planning to go that route, a few important notes: 

• You can apply for a mail ballot online, in person at a county election office, or through the mail. Applications must be received by your county by 5 p.m. on May 10, but the sooner the better. 
• When your ballot is filled out and you're ready to return it, make sure it's sealed inside both of the return envelopes provided — the inner "secrecy" envelope and the larger outer envelope. 
• There's a voter declaration on the outer envelope. Be sure to sign and date the fields listed below that declaration language.
• Some counties require paid postage, but others don’t. Check your county election website to confirm.
• Ballots must be received by your county by 8 p.m. on May 17. You can try tracking your mail ballot here.
• Your ballot can be returned by mail, but delivering it in person is a better option if Election Day (aka May 17) is close.
• A ballot can be hand-delivered at designated drop boxes (if your county has one) or at your local elections office.
• You can change your mind and vote on the machines at your polling place instead. Just take the mail ballot with you and have it voided.
• If you don't receive your requested mail ballot or lose it, you can cast a provisional paper ballot at your polling place.

Keep scrolling for more Spotlight PA election coverage.

OPEN FEUD: After a prominent Pittsburgh architect and his wife were charged with ethnic intimidation of a Russian neighbor, TribLIVE sought out more details and found trolling and open hostility in one of the city's toniest neighborhoods. It also found family ties leading to the Kremlin.

GIG GIFT: Nick Dunphy, the owner of the Caddy Shack Restaurant in Hampden Township, has given 12 longtime employees 70% of the business, PennLive reports. "Anyone who was with me 12-plus years, that was the cutoff," Dunphy said. "It was my way of saying thank you."

SQUASHED: The country's top-ranked squash player lives in Philly and now has a glowing New York Times Magazine profile to add to her resume. Amanda Sobhy is the first American-born player to crack the world's Top 10 and could go all the way to No. 1. The expectations and pressure are high. 

BAD BARGAIN: The National Labor Relations Board is wading into the labor dispute at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, per WESA, saying managers are refusing to bargain in good faith with the union representing the award-winning newsroom's employees, who've gone five years without a new contract. 

MOVIE MONEY: Film production has brought in more than $3 billion in revenue since Pennsylvania's related tax credit began in 2007, state Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R., Beaver) told Axios. To keep the money rolling in, the industry wants lawmakers to raise the credit limit by nearly 80%.