How to vote in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania voter registration guide
Pennsylvania voter registration deadlines
- Register to vote (online): 15 days prior to an election
- Register to vote (by mail): Received 15 days prior to an election
- Register to vote (in person): 15 days prior to an election
Check your Pennsylvania voter registration status
- 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.
Pennsylvania voter registration rules
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).
Pennsylvania online voter registration
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 .
Pennsylvania by-mail voter registration
- 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 15 days prior to an election .
Pennsylvania in-person voter registration
- 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.
Pennsylvania same day registration
Registering to vote in Pennsylvania with a felony conviction
Voting rights are restored automatically upon release from prison. You can register to vote. Pennsylvania restoration information
Pennsylvania absentee and mail ballot guide
Pennsylvania absentee ballot overview
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
Pennsylvania absentee deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 7 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received 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
Pennsylvania absentee ballot rules
Any registered Pennsylvania voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
Pennsylvania online ballot request (recommended)
- 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 .
Pennsylvania by-mail ballot request
- 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 7 days before Election Day .
Pennsylvania in-person ballot request
- 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 .
After you receive your ballot
- 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 state-provided drop box. Please check with your local election office if your county has a drop box. 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.
Pennsylvania absentee ballot ID requirements
- 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.
Pennsylvania absentee ballot tracker
Track your ballot here: Pennsylvania absentee ballot tracker
Pennsylvania absentee ballot curing
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.
Pennsylvania emergency ballots
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 RulesIn emergency situations, such as an unexpected illness, disability or last-minute absence from your municipality, you can request an Emergency Absentee Ballot after 5 pm on the Tuesday before the election. The deadline to submit your Emergency Absentee Ballot Application to the County Election Board is 8 pm on Election Day.
- Emergency ballot request starts 5PM Tuesday before Election Day
- Emergency ballot request ends 8PM on Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Pennsylvania early voting guide
Pennsylvania early voting dates
- Early voting starts: Varies by county
- Early voting ends: 7 days before Election Day
What to bring
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
ID requirements for voting in person
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.
ID requirements when requesting an absentee or mail 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 requirements when returning an absentee or mail 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.
ID requirements for online voter registration
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
External resources
- Pennsylvania online voter registration
- Pennsylvania online absentee ballot request
- Pennsylvania voter status lookup
- Pennsylvania absentee ballot tracker
- Pennsylvania provisional ballot tracker
- Pennsylvania polling place locator