Voter Guide: Getting Started

First things first: are you eligible to vote in PA?

To register to vote in Pennsylvania, you must:

1. Be a citizen of the U.S. for at least one month before the next primary, special, municipal, or general election;
2. Be a resident of Pennsylvania and the election district where you want to register and vote for at least 30 days before the next primary, special, municipal, or general election; and
3. Be at least 18 years old on or before the day of the next primary, special, municipal, or general election.

Note that Pennsylvania is a CLOSED PRIMARY state; in a primary election you can only vote for the candidates in the same political party you have named in your voter registration. For example, if you registered to vote as a member of the Republican Party then you can vote in the Republican primary, but not the Democratic primary. If you register as unaffiliated or independent, you may only vote on ballot questions.

If you are eligible to vote, you will need to complete a voter registration application form. The registration deadline is May 1 for the upcoming May 16 elections. Registration can be completed online, by mail, in person at your county voter registration office, or in person at PennDOT and some other government agencies. Remember that you will have to update your voter registration if you have moved since the last election. If you want to check your voter registration status, you can do so here. You can also look up contact information for your election officials using this link.

Residents of other states can use Rock the Vote to register to vote, check their registration status, or look up election officials.

Voting by Mail

Pennsylvania voters have until May 9 to request a mail-in ballot or absentee ballot for the May 16th primary. To vote by mail:

1. Register to vote in Pennsylvania;
2. Register for a mail-in or absentee ballot;
3. When your ballot arrives in the mail, read the instructions carefully and mark your ballot. Be sure to complete the front and back of each page;
4. Seal your ballot in the inner secrecy envelope that indicates 'official election ballot.' Do not make any marks on the inner secrecy envelope. Your ballot must be enclosed and sealed in the inner secrecy envelope that indicates 'official election ballot' or it will not be counted.
5. Seal the inner secrecy envelope in the pre-addressed outer return envelope. Sign and date the voter's declaration on the outside of the outer return envelope. If you do not complete the declaration on the return envelope your ballot will not be counted.
6. Return your voted ballot to the county election board. Absentee and mail-in ballots must be received by 8pm on election day at your county election board (postmarks do not count). To ensure your ballot is received by the deadline, return the ballot as soon as possible. You can track your ballot to make sure it has been received and counted. Alternately, rather than using mail, you can hand-deliver your ballot before 8pm on election day to your county election office or (in some counties) a drop box. Under Pennsylvania law, voters must return their own ballots (there is an exception for voters with a disability who have designated someone in writing to deliver their ballot).

Voting in Person

1. The next election in Pennsylvania is the May 16 primary.
2. You can look up your local polling place using the Department of State's website. You do not need to show ID at the polls unless it's your first time voting at a new location, in which case you must bring an approved form of identification.
3. If you have a disability and will need assistance, please note the Commonwealth's guidance on accessible voting.