Information Icon
Become a Poll Worker Today

It’s never too early to help democracy! By signing up to be a poll worker, you can ensure that all voters—including voters with disabilities, voters who need language assistance, and voters who want to cast their ballot in person—have a positive experience at the polls. Sign up today!

Pennsylvania

Upcoming Election Dates & Registration Deadlines

Some elections in this list are local and do not apply for all Pennsylvania voters. Please click the “View all” button below to view all election dates in your state.

Next Election: Primary
Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Presidential Primary & State Primary

View details

Registration Deadlines

Monday, April 8, 2024
By Mail
Monday, April 8, 2024
In Person
Monday, April 8, 2024

05

Nov
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
General

More Resources

Ballot resources icon
Find what's on your Ballot
Location icon
Find your Polling Place
Computer icon
Register to vote in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Voting Information

Absentee Ballot Process

All registered voters are eligible to request to vote by mail. You can request your mail ballot online, through a paper form (found in English and Espanol), in person at your County Election office or through a signed letter to your County Election Office. The last day to request an absentee ballot is 7 days before the election. Voted ballots must be received  by Election Day in order to be counted. You can sign up to track your mail ballot on your Department of State website. Absentee ballots start being counted on Election Day. You can track your absentee ballot here.

Emergency absentee ballots are available! If you have a last minute unexpected illness, disability or absence after the deadline to request an absentee ballot you can request an emergency absentee ballot.

Those who requested an absentee ballot but end up voting in person: If you already submitted a mail-in or absentee ballot, you cannot vote at your polling place on election day.

If you did not return your mail-in or absentee ballot and you want to vote in person, you have two options:

  1. Bring your ballot and the pre-addressed outer return envelope to your polling place to be voided. After you surrender your ballot and envelope and sign a declaration, you can then vote a regular ballot.
  2. If you don't surrender your ballot and return envelope, you can only vote by provisional ballot at your polling place. Your county board of elections will then verify that you did not vote by mail before counting your provisional ballot.

For specifics, you can find your local county clerk contact info here.

You may now request your absentee ballot online! You can vote absentee if you are:

  • A college student
  • Out of town on Election Day
  • Have a disability or illness that prevents you from getting to your polling place
  • A member of the military
  • Have a conflict due to a religious holiday

All registered PA voters can cast their ballot by mail. After applying, you can track the status of your ballot here.

The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is one week before the Election Day.

When you apply for an absentee ballot you must provide a driver's license number or a Social Security Number. If you don't know have a driver's license or a Social Security Number you must present a copy of an acceptable photo ID.

If you are a UOCAVA voter, a voter with a disability or voters over 65 and affected by the Voting Accessibility for Elderly and Handicapped Act you do not need to provide any ID to apply for your absentee ballot.

Deadlines for returning your voted absentee ballot:

The deadline to return your ballot is 8pm on Election Day.

If you have an emergency and did not apply for an absentee ballot by the deadline you may download and apply for an Emergency Absentee Ballot. This application must be notarized before it is submitted. More information about Emergency Absentee Ballots can be found here.

Request your Ballot
Campaign Finance Information

For information on federal campaign contributions, please visit Open Secrets.

For information on state campaign contributions, please visit your state's resource.

Candidate and Ballot Measure Information

Information on local, state and federal candidates and ballot measures may be available here.

 

 

Drop Boxes

In Pennsylvania, certain counties offer secure drop boxes for voters to return their mail-in or absentee ballots. Ballots should be submitted to the county election board's designated location before 8 p.m. on Election Day. According to state law, voters must personally return their ballots unless they have authorized someone in writing to deliver it.  

NOTE: You may also return your completed ballot to either your county election office or a satellite election office.

Check your county’s website for information.

Early Voting

Early voting is in the form of Absentee in Person. Counties may make mail ballots available to voters in person up to 50 days before Election Day. Varies by county. 

If you meet any of the requirements you may vote before Election Day through an Absentee Ballot or mail in ballot process.

You can find the absentee ballot information here, and the vote by mail information here.

Election Dates

The next election dates can be found here https://www.vote411.org/pennsylvania.

Contact your local Board of Elections, for information about local elections.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to vote you must be:

  • A citizen of the United States for at least one month before the next election
  • A resident of Pennsylvania and the district in which you register and vote for at least 30 days before the next election
  • At least 18 years of age on or before the day of the next election.

Please note to vote in a primary you must be registered and enrolled in a political party.

Pennsylvania 

Incarcerated Voters & Returning Citizens: 

In Pennsylvania, you only lose your right to vote if you are currently incarcerated for a felony conviction. If you lost your voting rights because of a conviction, you could register to vote immediately after release. Your voting rights are not restricted by pretrial detention, misdemeanors, probation, or parole. Note: This does not apply if you have been convicted of a violation of the Pennsylvania Election Code. 

Voters without traditional residence:  

If you do not have a street address or a permanent residence, use the map on the back of the voter registration form to show where you live or spend most of your time, with landmarks and road names. If you do not receive mail at your residential address, the mailing address on their registration form can be a PO box, local shelter, advocacy organization, outreach center, or the home of someone who will accept mail for you. 

ID Needed for Voter Registration

If you have a state driver's license, you must provide your driver's license number on your registration form. If you do not have a state license you must supply the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you do not have a Social Security Number, write none in the space provided for this number.

ID Needed for Voting

Unless your are a first time voter, you do not need to show any ID to vote a regular ballot on Election Day.

First time voters are required to show some form of ID, but it does not need to be a photo ID. Acceptable forms of ID are:

  • Pennsylvania driver's license or PENNDOT ID card
  • ID issued by any Commonwealth agency
  • ID issued by the US Government
  • US Passport
  • US armed Forces ID
  • Student ID
  • Employee ID
  • Confirmation issued by the County Voter Registration Office
  • Non-photo ID issued by the Commonwealth that shows name and address
  • Non-photo ID issued by the US Government that shows name and address
  • Firearm permit
  • Current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government check that shows name and address

All voters may be asked to show ID at the polls, however, you cannot be stopped from voting a regular ballot if you do not provide a valid ID.

Voters can call or text 844-338-8743 at any time to reach VoteRiders Voter ID Helpline

Official Results

Official results are never available on Election Day. Election officials are working around the clock to count an unprecedented number of ballots, and it’s essential that they take the time to make sure every vote is counted.

Absentee ballots begin being counted on Election Day. Provisional ballots are counted 7 days after the election.

Officials cannot begin to process mail ballots until Election Day. Official election results will be uploaded on Pennsylvania’s Department of State website as they become available. 

 

Official Results
Overseas and Military Voters

You are a Military or Overseas voter if you are in uniformed services, living overseas OR a spouse or dependent of a uniformed services voter. To get registered and vote, you can utilize Overseas Vote Foundation.

If you have additional questions about elections and voting overseas you can use our state specific elections official directory or contact the Overseas Vote Foundation.

Poll Worker Information

You can make sure we have safe, fair, and efficient elections for all. Become a poll worker today!

In order to be a poll worker in Pennsylvania, you must be:

  • Registered to vote in Pennsylvania
  • 18 years old
  • A resident of election district for the 30 days before the election.
  • A Student enrolled in a high school, 17 years old, may be appointed with written permission from a parent, guardian or school principal

To sign up, contact your local board of elections.

Polling Place Hours

The polling places are open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Polling Place Locator

You can find your polling place by utilizing your state resource.

If you have further questions on your polling place location, please contact your county clerk.

Primary Election Process

Pennsylvania is a “closed primary” state. In order to vote in the primary election, voters must be registered with a political party. Unaffiliated or independent voters are not able to participate in the primary.

If you have any questions about your state’s primary election, please contact your local election officials.

Provisional Voting

You may vote a provisional ballot if you meet specific conditions.

You may vote a provisional ballot if:

  • You try to vote in an election district and your name does not appear on the poll book and the elections officials cannot determine your registration.
  • If you do not have an approved form of ID when you appear to vote
  • The election official says you are not eligible to vote.

You are required to vote by provisional ballot if:

  • You're voting as a result of a Federal or State court order.
  • You are voting as a result of an order extending the time established for closing the polls by state law that is in effect 10 days before an election.

Provisional ballots are counted 7 days after Election Day. You can check the status of your provisional ballot using the information provided to you on the provisional ballot identification receipt, call 1-877-VOTES-PA or visit the department of state. Provide your provisional ballot identification number.

 

Provisions for Voters with Disabilities

Any voter who requires assistance to vote by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write may be given assistance by a person of the voter's choice, other than the voter's employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter's union. The Judge of Elections cannot assist a voter with disabilities.

For those voters who have a disability or are elderly and assigned to an inaccessible polling place, you may request an Alternative Ballot. An Alternative Ballot may be cast with the county board of elections by 8 p.m. (or the close of polls) on Election Day. You can request an Alternative Ballot is available by:

Applications for alternative ballots must be submitted to your County Board of Elections no later than 5pm on the Tuesday before Election Day.

Should you have any access needs at your polling center, or any questions, call the Disability Rights Pennsylvania at their intake line: 1.800.692.7443.

 

If you run into any problems or have questions on Election Day, call the Election Protection Hotline:

  • English: 1-866-OUR-VOTE / 1-866-687-8683
  • Spanish: 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA / 1-888-839-8682
  • Arabic: 1-844-YALLA-US / 1-844-925-5287
  • For Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Urdu, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, or Vietnamese: 1-888-274-8683

For more information, you can utilize the American Association of People With Disabilities (AAPD) resource.

    Registration Deadline

    The deadline for registering to vote is 15 days before each election. Click here to fill out your application online. Or, you can print your registration form here.

    You can submit your application:

    • Online
    • In person at your county voter registration office
    • By mail to your county voter registration office

    Automatic Voter Registration:

    Starting September 19, 2024, you'll automatically be registered to vote when obtaining a new or renewed driver's license or ID card at the DMV. If you prefer not to participate, you can choose to opt-out. 

    Time Off To Vote

    Time off to vote is subject to the employer, there is no requirement for employers to grant time off to vote for employees.

    Verify Voter Registration

    To verify your voter registration status

    click here!
    Vote by Mail

    All registered voters are eligible to request to vote by mail beginning in April 2020! You can request your mail ballot online, through a paper form (found in English and Espanol), in person at your County Election office or through a signed letter to your County Election Office.

    You must provide your PA driver's license or photo ID to register online.

    All mail-in ballot applications must be received by 5pm the Tuesday before the election in order to be considered for the next election. If your request is approved you will receive a mail ballot with instructions from your County Election Office.

    After applying, you can track the status of your ballot here.

    You can request to be added to the annual mail-ballot request list where you receive an application to renew your mail ballot request each year. Once your application is approved, you will automatically receive ballots for the remainder of the year and you do not need to send an application for each election. Contact your County Election Office for more information.

    Voting Machines

    The voting systems used in Pennsylvania are optical scan, DRE, and paper ballots.

    Optical Scan: With this system, you will receive a card or sheet of paper, which you take over to a private table or booth. The card has the names of the candidates and ballot measures printed on it. With a pen or pencil you fill in a little box or circle or the space between two arrows. When you are finished filling out all the cards, you bring the cards over to a ballot box, where poll workers will show you how to put the cards in the box. Or in some places, you may feed the completed cards or papers into a computer device that checks your card or paper right there at the polling place to make sure you have voted the way you want to and counts the votes.

    Direct Recording Electronic (DRE): All the information about who and what you are voting for is on an electronic screen like a TV or computer screen.

    There are many variations of DREs because lots of companies are inventing new ones, and many cities, counties and states are trying them out. Usually, after you have signed in, the poll workers will give you a card that you slide into a device to start your voting session.

    Some of these devices will show all of the candidates and ballot choices on one big screen. Often, with these big screen devices you push a button next to the name of the candidate you want to vote for (or yes or no on a ballot measure). On other DREs, the screen is set up to show pages. On each screen or page, there will probably be one thing to vote on. For example, on one screen or page, you might vote for president. Then you might move to the next page to vote for senator. Often these small-screen devices have a touch screen where you touch the screen next to the name of the person you want to vote for. Other devices have a key pad. And some have a keyboard, so you can write in the name of someone you want to vote for.

    You let the system know you are finished voting by pushing a button, touching the screen or entering something on a keypad.

    Paper Ballots: Paper ballots are one of the oldest ways of voting in America. They are still used in a few places on Election Day. When you come to the polling place, you will get a paper ballot from the poll worker. You take it to the voting booth, and use a pen or pencil to mark a box next to your candidate and issue choices. You then drop the marked ballot into a sealed ballot box.

    Personalized voting information

    • See What's On Your Ballot
    • Check Your Voter Registration
    • Find Your Polling Place
    • Discover Upcoming Debates and Forum in Your Area

    Get Started

    Pennsylvania Department of State

    Department of State

    210 N. Office Building

    Harrisburg 17120


    Get Involved With
    LWV of Pennsylvania

    LWV volunteers work year-round to register new voters, host community forums and debates, and provide voters with election information they need.

    Learn More