Upcoming Elections
2009 Municipal General Elections: 11/3/09
2010 Primary Election: 05/18/10
2010 General Election: 11/2/10
Polling Place Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Click here to download a Pennsylvania Frequently Asked Questions document created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.
Voter Registration Information
Click here for a Pennsylvania Voter Registration Guide created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.
Registration Deadlines
Registration forms must be completed, signed, and submitted 30 days before the election.
2009 Municipal General Elections: 10/5/09
2010 General Election: 10/4/10
Identification Required for Registration
Generally, identification is not required to register to vote in Pennsylvania. However, the registration form requires an applicant's Pennsylvania drivers license number or the last four digits of the applicant's social security number. If an applicant does not have either, they may check the box in the appropriate field.
How to Check Registration
Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE
Visit the Pennsylvania Depart of State's Voting Information Center website.
Voting Information
Identification Required to Vote
If you are voting for the first time, Pennsylvania law requires you to present one of the following forms of identification:
- A valid driver's license or identification card issued by the Department of Transportation
- A valid identification card issued by any other agency of the Commonwealth
- A valid identification card issued by the United States Government
- A valid United States passport
- A valid student identification card
- A valid employee identification card
- A valid armed forces of the United States identification card
- A Voter Identification Card
- A non-photo ID issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the U.S. Government
- A firearm permit
- A current utility bill, bank statement, or paycheck
- A government check
How to Find Your Polling Place
Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE
Visit the Pennsylvania Depart of State's Polling Place Locator website.
Absentee Voting
Click here to visit GoVoteAbsentee.org, a resource for absentee voters.
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 the Commonwealth 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 the Commonwealth 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 the Commonwealth 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 the Commonwealth 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 the Commonwealth 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.
To vote by absentee ballot, a voter must apply to the County Board of Elections for an absentee ballot. The County Board of Elections will send a paper absentee ballot to the voter. The voter then completes the ballot and returns it to the County Board of Elections.
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.
If you're a first-time voter and plan on using an absentee ballot, you will need to provide a copy of a driver's license or any other type of acceptable ID.
Early Voting
Not permitted
Information For People who have Moved or Changed Addresses
If you have moved within the state less than 30 days before to the election, you must vote at your former residence. If you 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 at this location and must follow "fail-safe" procedures, which include informing the Election Officials of the change of address and filling out an affirmation stating the new address. The new polling location will then update its records, and you will receive a new voter registration card. You will no longer be able to vote at your old polling place.
More information can be found at the Pennsylvania Department of State's election website, here.
Information for People with Felony Convictions
Voting rights restored automatically after release from prison
For more information, go to the Secretary of State's website, or click here to download a Pennsylvania Election Protection Manual created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.
