Pennsylvania Voting Information
PYC urges every eligible citizen to vote in the upcoming election!
The issues we care deeply about are on every ballot, and especially on the upcoming election day on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020. We encourage everyone voting to learn about the positions of each candidate on LGBTQ rights and social justice issues.
The deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania is Monday, October 19th, and the deadline for a mail-in ballot is Tuesday, October 27th.
Pride at the Polls — Philadelphia will take place on Saturday, October 17th from 1-4pm at Philadelphia City Hall. It’s a great opportunity for those in Philadelphia to celebrate with pride submitting your ballot in-person with a socially-distanced event in the courtyard! More info on their Facebook page here.
Reminder: You are only required to present an authorized photo ID at a polling location if it is your first time voting or first time voting at that location. Here is an article from Philadelphia Weekly about voting while trans.
The following information has been shared by the Governor’s administration:
Pennsylvanians can Vote Early for the first time!
Voters can go in person to one of their county election offices or early voting satellite offices any time it is open before election day, request a ballot, fill it out and return it on the spot – all in one visit. For additional information, please check out the state’s Early Voting Info Page so that you can make a plan.
Mail-In/Absentee Voting:
Mail-in or absentee voting offers eligible voters a secure, convenient, accessible and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially safe option of voting in the privacy of their own homes. To vote by mail, remember these tips and requirements:
Anyone registered to vote is eligible to vote by mail. The deadline to register to vote in the November 3rd election is October 19th. Pennsylvanians can register to vote or check their registration status at votesPA.com.
Anyone who plans to vote by mail must apply for a mail ballot. Voters can apply online or print a paper application at votesPA.com and return it to their county board of elections. The deadline to apply for a mail ballot is October 27th at 5:00pm ET, but voters are urged to apply now, so they have plenty of time to return their ballot before the election. Voters who applied for a mail-in ballot for the primary and asked to be added to the permanent annual mail ballot list do not need to reapply for a mail ballot for the general election. Voters can track the status of their mail ballot at votesPA.com.
While applying for an absentee ballot still requires the voter to provide a reason, mail-in voting does not.
Once the voter’s application for a mail ballot is verified, their county election office will mail them a ballot after they have been finalized and printed.
As soon as the voter receives the ballot, the voter should:
- Read the instructions carefully.
- Fill out the ballot, being sure to follow instructions on how to mark selections.
- Seal the ballot in the white inner secrecy envelope that says, “official ballot.” Make sure not to make any stray marks on the envelope.
- Then seal the inner secrecy envelope in the pre-addressed outer return envelope where the voter must sign.
- Complete and sign the voter’s declaration on the outside of the outer return envelope.
- If the ballot is not enclosed in both envelopes, it will not be counted.
- If the voter does not sign the outer envelope, the ballot will not be counted.
- Voters can mail their ballot. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by November 3rd at 8:00pm and received by the county election office by November 6th at 5:00pm. The Department of State is providing pre-paid postage on mail ballot return envelopes, or
- Voters can hand-deliver their ballot to their county election office or another officially designated site, such as a Drop Box.
- Hand-delivered ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on election day.
- Some counties are providing Drop-Boxes or drop-off sites for mail ballots. The Department of State has compiled a list of Drop Box Locations across the state, which is available here.
Under Pennsylvania law, voters may only return their own ballots. The only exceptions to this are for voters with a disability who have designated someone in writing to deliver their ballot, or for voters who are hospitalized or need an emergency absentee ballot.
Voters who provide an email address on their mail ballot application can check the status of their mail ballot at votesPA.com.
If a voter submits a voted mail ballot, they cannot vote at the polls on election day.
If a voter applies for a mail ballot, but does not return it, they may vote by provisional ballot at the polls on election day. Their county board of elections will then verify that they didn’t vote by mail before counting their provisional ballot.
Voters who apply for and receive a mail ballot and then decide they want to vote at the polls must bring their entire unvoted mail ballot packet with them to be voided, including both envelopes.
Voting In Person on Election Day:
If they have not voted by mail or in person ahead of the November 3rd election, they can vote at the polls on election day between 7:00am. and 8:00pm.
Voters should wear a mask and follow social distancing guidelines. The Department of State is supplying counties with masks, face shields, hand sanitizer, floor marking tape, and other supplies for polling places so Pennsylvanians can safely exercise their right to vote in person during this COVID-19 emergency.
Who Should I Call If I Have a Question?
Voters who need information or encounter problems at their polling place should call the state’s official election day hotline toll free at: 1-877-868-3772.
Pennsylvanians now have voting options that are more secure, accessible and convenient than ever before. Whichever option you choose, the most important thing is that you and your community votes and lets your voices be heard.