PENNSYLVANIA, USA — Election Day is only a few weeks away, but Pennsylvanians eager to cast their ballots do not have to wait until then.
Here's how Pa. residents can vote before Nov. 5.
According to vote.pa, Pennsylvanians can vote early in person the 2024 election by contacting their county elections office to check the availability of printed ballots. If available, pa.gov residents can go to their respective county election office to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot, though they must do so by Oct. 29.
How do I cast my vote?
In Pennsylvania, you can vote in person at your assigned polling location, by absentee ballot or mail-in ballot.
Requests for an absentee or mail-in ballot must be received by the local elections office by October 29.
Your completed ballot must be in the elections office by 8 p.m. on November 5, and postmarks on that date do not count.
How do I apply for a mail-in ballot? When is the deadline to apply?
Applying for a mail-in or absentee ballot is easy to do online. Registered voters can apply on VotesPA.com. If you provide an email address, you can receive real time updates on your application and track when your ballot is expected to arrive.
The last day to apply for a mail-in ballot in Pennsylvania is October 29. However, the U.S. Postal Service recommends voters do not wait that long to apply in order to ensure their ballot arrives on election day.
How do I vote by mail?
In Pennsylvania, mail-in ballots are due by November 5. Overseas and military absentee ballots have until November 12 to arrive, which means ballots should be sent in the mail no later than November 4.
If you receive a mail-in ballot but decide you want to vote in person, you must bring your unmarked ballot and envelope to your polling place. Without them, you can only vote in person by provisional ballot.
You can also bring your mail-in ballot to your county election office at any time, as long as it is before 8 p.m. on November 5.
For more information, you can visit the Pennsylvania Department of State’s website.
If I HAVE NOT turned in my absentee ballot yet, can I drop it off on Election Day?
Yes. Here's what to do:
- Bring your ballot and the pre-addressed outer return envelope to your polling place to be voided. After you surrender your ballot and envelope and sign a declaration, you can then vote a regular ballot.
- If you don't surrender your ballot and return envelope, you can only vote by provisional ballot at your polling place. Your county election board will then verify that you did not vote by mail before counting your provisional ballot.
List of important dates for 2024 Election Cycle in Pa.
The Pennsylvania Department of State has released dates for events related to this year's elections. Here is a list of critical dates associated with Pennsylvania's 2024 election cycle:
- October 21, 2024 - Last day to register to vote before November 5 election
- October 29, 2024 - Last day to apply for mail-in or civilian absentee ballot
- November 5, 2024 - 2024 Pennsylvania General election (Polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
