How to vote in Pennsylvania
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Pennsylvania voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): 15 days prior to an election
- Register to vote (by mail): Received by 15 days prior to Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 15 days prior to an election
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Pennsylvania registration using the Pennsylvania voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
To register in Pennsylvania you must:
- be a citizen of the United States at 30 days before Election Day
- be a resident of Pennsylvania and your election district at least 30 days before Election Day
- be 18 years old by Election Day
- not be incarcerated after conviction for a felony (your voting rights are restored immediately after incarceration).
You can register to vote online if you have a Pennsylvania driver license, driver permit, or nondriver photo ID card. You can also register to vote using your Social Security Number, if you also upload a photo of your signature.
- Visit the Pennsylvania online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 15 days prior to an election.
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Enter your PA driver’s license number. If you don't have one, enter the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you don't have either number, write "NONE" in this space.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You must register with a party if you want to take part in that party’s primary election.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: This information is requested but not required.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be received by 15 days prior to Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your Pennsylvania driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and Pennsylvania address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Voting rights are restored automatically upon release from prison for most felonies. If you were convicted of a misdemeanor or felony violation of the Election Code, you will regain your voting rights four years after the date of your conviction or the date of your release from prison, whichever occurs later.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You can vote while on parole.
- You can vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- No financial obligations.
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
Pennsylvania absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 7 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 7 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 7 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Any registered Pennsylvania voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
- Visit the Pennsylvania absentee ballot website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Hit save or submit when you are done.
- The deadline to apply online is 7 days before Election Day.
- Download the Pennsylvania absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 7 days before Election Day.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 7 days before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a drop box if one is available nearby. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
- Online applications: You can apply online if you have a PA driver's license number or PennDOT issued nondriver's ID number.
- Paper applications: You must provide a copy of your current and valid Pennsylvania driver’s license, PennDOT photo ID card, or the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number. If you don’t have a valid ID or a social security number, you can provide a photocopy of your passport or other ID issued by the Federal Government, a photo ID issued by a Pennsylvania public or private school, or a photo ID issued by a Pennsylvania care facility. Your ID must be non-expired. Additionally, the signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Track your ballot here: Pennsylvania absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it.
- Your voted ballot will also be rejected if it's not inside the "secrecy envelope." If you submit a "naked ballot," your vote will be rejected.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
You can request an emegency absentee ballot if you experience an unexpected illness, disability or last-minute absence from your municipality within 7 days of the election.
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends 8PM on Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Pennsylvania early voting guide
- Early voting starts: Varies by county
- Early voting ends: 7 days before Election Day
Most Pennsylvania voters do not need to show ID. First time PA voters should plan on showing ID at the polls. You can show a photo ID issued by the State of Pennsylvania or the Federal Government, a student ID issued by an accredited college or university, an employee ID or a tribal ID card. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address. Your ID can be expired if you are using a PA driver's license or PennDOT ID card.
Pennsylvania voter ID guide
Most Pennsylvania voters do not need to show ID. First time PA voters should plan on showing ID at the polls. You can show a photo ID issued by the State of Pennsylvania or the Federal Government, a student ID issued by an accredited college or university, an employee ID or a tribal ID card. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address. Your ID can be expired if you are using a PA driver's license or PennDOT ID card.
- Online applications: You can apply online if you have a PA driver's license number or PennDOT issued nondriver's ID number.
- Paper applications: You must provide a copy of your current and valid Pennsylvania driver’s license, PennDOT photo ID card, or the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number. If you don’t have a valid ID or a social security number, you can provide a photocopy of your passport or other ID issued by the Federal Government, a photo ID issued by a Pennsylvania public or private school, or a photo ID issued by a Pennsylvania care facility. Your ID must be non-expired. Additionally, the signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
You can register to vote online if you have a Pennsylvania driver license, driver permit, or nondriver photo ID card. You can also register to vote using your Social Security Number, if you also upload a photo of your signature.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Pennsylvania elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth 210 North Office Bldg. Harrisburg, PA 17120‐0029