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Registered Pennsylvania voters who want to vote by mail ballot in the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election must apply for their mail ballot online or in person by the Tuesday, Oct. 29 deadline, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said in a news release.
Those who want to vote by mail are urged to apply for and return their completed ballot as soon as possible to ensure their vote is counted, according to the news release.
You can apply for a mail ballot here.
Voters should follow these steps to ensure that their ballot can be counted:
- Read all instructions enclosed with the ballot.
- Fill out the ballot by following the instructions on how to mark selections. Check both sides of the ballot in case there are races listed on the second page.
- Seal the ballot in the yellow inner secrecy envelope marked "official election ballot." Do not make any stray marks on the envelope.
- Seal the yellow inner secrecy envelope in the pre-addressed outer return envelope.
- Sign and write the current date on the voter's declaration on the outer return envelope.
- Mail or hand deliver the completed ballot to their county elections office, or hand deliver the ballot to an officially designated satellite office or drop box.
For a list of locations where mail ballots can be returned click here.
By law, a voter may hand deliver only their own ballot, with the sole exceptions being for:
- Voters with a disability who have designated someone in writing to deliver their ballot.
- Voters who need an emergency absentee ballot.
County elections offices must receive completed mail-in or absentee ballots by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Ballots returned after that time will not count, the news release states.
Voters who received an absentee or mail-in ballot may vote in person on Election Day if they bring their mail ballot materials with them to be voided.
Polls will be open 7 a.m. through 8 p.m. on Election Day for registered voters who want to vote in person.
More information on mail ballots in Pennsylvania can be found here.
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