Polling Place Hours

Election Day: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Early voting is not available in Pennsylvania.

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)!

How to Find Your Polling Place

Visit the Pennsylvania Depart of State's Polling Place Locator website. Polling Place Locator for voters in Philadelphia County. You may also visit Vote411’s Polling Place Finder website.

Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)!

Registration Deadline

Registration forms must be completed, signed, and submitted 30 days before an election.

2012 General Election: October 9, 2012

How to Check Your Registration Status

Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE

Visit the Pennsylvania Depart of State's Voting Information Center website.

Eligibility Requirements to Register

To register to vote in Pennsylvania, a person must be:

• a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the next primary, special, municipal, or general election;
• a resident of Pennsylvania and the election district in which he or she is registering for at least 30 days before the next primary, special, municipal, or general election; and
• at least 18 years of age on or before the day of the next primary, special, municipal, or general election.

Once a person has registered to vote, he or she is not required to register again unless either residence, name, or political party affiliation has changed.

Identification for Registration

Generally, identification is not needed to register to vote in Pennsylvania. However, the registration form requires an applicant's Pennsylvania driver’s license number or the last four digits of the applicant's social security number. If an applicant does not have either, he or she may check the box in the appropriate field.

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)!

If You Want to Vote Early

There is no early voting in Pennsylvania.

If You Want to Vote Absentee

The following people may vote for any office in any election by absentee ballot as long as they are registered to vote:

• A person who is or may be in the military service of the United States, regardless of whether at the time of voting the person is present in the election district of residence or in Pennsylvania and regardless of whether he or she is registered to vote.
• A spouse or dependent residing with or accompanying a person in the military service of the United States and who expects on Election Day to be absent from his or her municipality of residence during the entire period in which the polling places are open for voting (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.).
• A member of the Merchant Marine and his/her spouse and dependents residing with or accompanying the Merchant Marine, who expect on Election Day to be absent from Pennsylvania or the municipality of residence during the entire period in which the polling places are open for voting (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.).
• A member of a religious or welfare group attached to and serving with the armed forces and his/her spouse and dependents residing with or accompanying him or her, who expect on Election Day to be absent from Pennsylvania or the municipality of residence during the entire period in which the polling places are open for voting (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.).
• An individual who, because of the elector's duties, occupation or business (including leaves of absence for teaching, vacations and sabbatical leaves), expects on Election Day to be absent from his/her municipality of residence during the entire period the polls are open for voting and the spouse and dependents of such electors who are residing with or accompanying the elector and for that reason also expect to be absent from his/her municipality during the entire period the polls are open for voting (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.).
• A qualified war veteran elector who is bedridden or hospitalized due to illness or physical disability if the elector is absent from the municipality of his residence and unable to attend his/her polling place because of such illness or disability, regardless of whether the elector is registered to vote.
• A person who, because of illness or physical disability, is unable to attend his/her polling place or to operate a voting machine and obtain assistance by distinct and audible statements. (Note: A disabled elector may be placed on a permanently disabled absentee file.)
• A spouse or dependent accompanying a person employed by Pennsylvania or the federal government, in the event that the employee's duties, occupation or business on Election Day require him/her to be absent from Pennsylvania or the municipality of residence during the entire period the polls are open for voting (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.).
• A county employee who expects that his Election Day duties relating to the conduct of the election will prevent the employee from voting.
• A person who will not attend a polling place on Election Day because of the observance of a religious holiday.

Voters must provide driver’s license number, last 4 digits of Social Security Number, or a copy of an accepted photo ID when applying for an absentee ballot.  First-time voters must supply an accepted photo ID.

Download and print an Absentee Ballot Application and send it to your County Election Office.

In Pennsylvania, the County Board of Elections must receive your application for absentee ballot no later than 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before the election. In emergency situations (such as an unexpected illness or disability) you can submit an Emergency Application for Absentee Ballot, which must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on the Friday before Election Day. Completed non-emergency absentee ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on the Friday before Election Day.

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)!

Identification Required to Register to Vote

As noted above, identification is not needed to register to vote in Pennsylvania. However, the registration form requires an applicant's Pennsylvania driver’s license number or the last four digits of the applicant's social security number. If an applicant does not have either, he or she may check the box in the appropriate field.

Identification Required to Vote

The Pennsylvania Election Code was amended effective September 17, 2012, requiring that all voters present "proof of identification" in order to vote; however, the portions of the law enforcing this requirement have been temporarily blocked for the November General Election.

In the November General Election, voters may still be asked to show proof of identification, but MOST VOTERS MAY STILL CAST A REGULAR BALLOT EVEN IF THEY DO NOT HAVE PHOTO ID WITH THEM.

Voters who are voting for the first time (who registered by mail without providing identification) or who have not previously voted in their election district may be required to present identification with the voter’s name and address on it in order to vote.  For first time voters, any of the following forms of photo identification with the voter’s name and address on it is acceptable:

(1) a valid state driver’s license, (2) a valid state or federal identification card, (3) a valid U.S. passport, (4) a valid student identification card, (5) a valid employee identification card, or (6) a valid U.S. armed forces identification card.

A first time voter or a voter who has not previously voted in the election district without photo identification may still vote if he or she presents one of the following forms of identification with her/his name and address on it: (1) a valid state or federal non-photo identification card, (2) a firearms permit, (3) a current utility bill, (4) a current bank statement, (5) a paycheck, (6) a government check, or (7) confirmation issued by the County Voter Registration Office (voter’s registration card).

Voters should note that the photo ID requirement is only blocked for the November 2012 General Election. Voters should obtain photo ID for future elections. For the future Pennsylvania voters will be required to present photo ID.

After November 2012 Election:

A voter must show a document that includes (1) the name of the individual that substantially conforms to the name of the individual in the register, (2) a photograph of the individual, and (3) it must include an expiration date and that date must not be expired providing for two exceptions (a) a document issued by the Dept. of Transportation that is not more than twelve months past the expiration date is acceptable, and (b) documents for the Armed Forces of the United States or their reserve components.

Explicitly, these include:

1.      A Pennsylvania Driver's License or Identification Card issued by the Department of Transportation;

2.      A valid Identification Card issued by any other agency of the Commonwealth;

3.      A valid Identification Card issued by the United States Government;

4.      A valid United States Passport;

5.      A valid Student Identification Card;

6.      A valid Employee Identification Card; or

7.      A valid Armed Forces of the United States Identification Card.

8.      Photo ID cards issued by a Pennsylvania care facility, including long-term care facilities, assisted living residents or personal care homes.

Eligible voters who have religious objections to having their pictures taken may present valid-without-photo driver’s licenses or ID cards issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)!

If you moved at least thirty days before an election, change your voter registration by submitting a new Voter Registration Mail Application form. Simply select the box that says “Change of Address.”

If you moved less than 30 days before an election, you must vote at your former residence's polling location. When you arrive to vote, tell the local Election Official of your change of address so that you can vote correctly at your new address in the future.

If you have moved more than 30 days before an election but did not change your address with Voter Registration Officials, you must vote at the polling place of your old residence, where you are registered to vote. However, you may only vote once at the original polling place and you must abide by special procedures, called “fail-safe voting.” These procedures include:

• If you have moved within the same county, inform the Election Officials at the polling place that you have moved and would like to change your registration by filling out an affirmation that states your new address.
• You will be permitted to vote at the old polling place based on your previous residence, but the County Voter Registration Commission will update its records after the election.
• You will receive a new voter certification card in the mail that will show your new address and polling place.

If you have moved to a different county in Pennsylvania, you must inform the Election Officials at your old polling place that you have moved to a different county and would like to have your registration changed. The Election Officials will let you vote at the old polling place based on your former residence, but they will require you to complete an affirmation declaring your new address and county of residence. After the election, the respective county voter registration commission will update their records. You will receive by mail a voter certification card from the new county. You cannot vote in your old county again unless you establish a residence there again and re-register to vote.

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)!

Military and overseas citizens can use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), also known as Standard Form 76, to register to vote and to request an absentee ballot.  Visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program's (FVAP) Pennsylvania-specific FPCA page.

Military and overseas citizens can send and receive voting materials by fax and email.  If you wish to use the fax or email options, you must indicate this on your FPCA.  Instructions for doing so can be found on the FVAP's website.

Military and overseas citizens can use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) if they are concerned about receiving their printed ballot and returning it by the 7:00 p.m. deadline on Election Day.  The FWAB is a blank ballot on which voters write in their choices. 

Military and overseas citizens can also use the FWAB to register to vote and to apply for the absentee ballot, all in one step.  Please not that FWAB voter registrations must be received by the voter registration deadline.  For specific instructions, visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program's Pennsylvania-specific FWAB page.

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)!

Voting rights are restored automatically after release from prison.  People on probation or parole are also eligible to vote. People who have had their voting rights restored will need to re-register to vote in accordance with the registration requirements and procedures noted above.

For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Secretary of State website.

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)!

FAQ

Manual

Voter Checklist

For more information for voters with mental disabilities, visit The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law and National Disability Rights Network’s document: “Voting Rights Guide for People with Mental Disabilities”

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)!