Voting in Pennsylvania

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Election Information
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Voting in 2024
Voter registration
Early voting
Absentee/mail-in voting
All-mail voting
Voter ID laws
State poll opening and closing times
Time off work for voting

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Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its voting policies.

The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.

This article includes the following information about voting policies in Pennsylvania:

Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.

For information on elections happening this year, click here.

Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.

Voter registration

The table below displays voter registration information specific to Pennsylvania's 2025 election cycle.

Voter registration in Pennsylvania: May 20, 2025, election.

Can people register to vote online? If so, what is the link?

Can voters check their registration status online? If so, what is the link?

Can voters update their registration online? If so, what is the link?

What is the deadline for registering in person?

May 5, 2025

What is the deadline for registering by mail?

May 5, 2025

Is the mail-in registration deadline a postmark or receipt deadline?

Received

What is the online registration deadline, if available?

May 5, 2025

Is Election Day registration available?

N/A

Is same-day registration available during early voting?

N/A


Voter registration in Pennsylvania: Nov. 4, 2025, election.

Can people register to vote online? If so, what is the link?

Can voters check their registration status online? If so, what is the link?

Can voters update their registration online? If so, what is the link?

What is the deadline for registering in person?

Oct. 20, 2025

What is the deadline for registering by mail?

Oct. 20, 2025

Is the mail-in registration deadline a postmark or receipt deadline?

Received

What is the online registration deadline, if available?

Oct. 20, 2025

Is Election Day registration available?

N/A

Is same-day registration available during early voting?

N/A


Eligibility and registration details

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Pennsylvania, an applicant must be a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the next election, a resident of the district in which he or she is registering for at least 30 days before the next election, and at least 18 years old by the day of the next election.[1] The deadline for registering to vote is 15 days before the election.[1] Registration can be done online, in person, or by mail. Prospective voters can register in person at the county voter registration office or at a number of state agencies, including Pennsylvania Department of Transportation centers. The Pennsylvania voter registration application is available online and can be mailed to the county voter registration office.[2] On September 19, 2023, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) announced that the state had implemented automatic voter registration.[3]


In-person voting

The table below displays in-person voting information specific to Pennsylvania's 2025 election cycle.

In-person voting in Pennsylvania: May 20, 2025, election.

Are all voters required to show ID?

N/A

What kinds of ID are accepted?

Pennsylvania driver’s license or PennDOT identification card identification card issued by a commonwealth agency U.S. government identification card U.S. passport U.S. Armed Forces identification card student ID employee ID

Where can voters learn more about the state's voter ID requirements?

When did early voting start?

Varies

When does early voting end?

May 13, 2025

Where can I find early voting locations?

Is weekend voting available?

N/A

Where can voters learn more about early voting?

What are the poll times on Election Day?

7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (EDT)

Where can I find voting locations?


In-person voting in Pennsylvania: Nov. 4, 2025, election.

Are all voters required to show ID?

N/A

What kinds of ID are accepted?

Pennsylvania driver’s license or PennDOT identification card identification card issued by a commonwealth agency U.S. government identification card U.S. passport U.S. Armed Forces identification card student ID employee ID

Where can voters learn more about the state's voter ID requirements?

When did early voting start?

Varies

When does early voting end?

Oct. 28, 2025

Where can I find early voting locations?

Is weekend voting available?

N/A

Where can voters learn more about early voting?

What are the poll times on Election Day?

7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (EST)

Where can I find voting locations?


Poll times

See also: State poll opening and closing times

In Pennsylvania, all polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[4]

Voter identification

See also: Voter identification laws by state

Pennsylvania does not generally require voters to present identification while voting. However, a voter who is voting at a polling place for the first time must present identification.[5]

Voters can present the following forms of identification. This list was current as of October 2024. Click here to ensure you have current information.

Approved forms of photo identification include:
  • Pennsylvania driver’s license or PennDOT ID card
  • ID issued by any Commonwealth agency
  • ID issued by the U.S. Government
  • U.S. passport
  • U.S. Armed Forces ID
  • Student ID
  • Employee ID

If you do not have a photo ID, you can use a non-photo identification that includes your name and address.

  • Confirmation issued by the County Voter Registration Office
  • Non-photo ID issued by the Commonwealth
  • Non-photo ID issued by the U.S. Government
  • Firearm permit
  • Current utility bill
  • Current bank statement
  • Current paycheck
  • Government check[6]

Early voting

See also: Early voting

Pennsylvania voters can cast mail ballots in person. According to the Pennsylvania Department of State's Office of Communications and Press, "Once a county’s ballots are finalized and printed, a registered voter can apply for their mail ballot in person at their county election office, complete it, then submit it all in one visit. Voters should check their county's website to see when they have final ballots available and what hours their election office is open."[7] For more information, visit this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.


Absentee/mail-in voting

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

The table below displays absentee voting information specific to Pennsylvania's 2025 election cycle.

Absentee voting in Pennsylvania: May 20, 2025, election.

Are there limits on who can request a ballot?

No

What is the deadline for requesting a ballot by mail?

May 13, 2025

Is the request deadline a postmark or receipt deadline?

Received

What is the deadline for returning a voted ballot by mail?

May 20, 2025

Is the return deadline a postmark or receipt deadline?

Received

Are there notary or witness requirements?

N/A


Absentee voting in Pennsylvania: Nov. 4, 2025, election.

Are there limits on who can request a ballot?

No

What is the deadline for requesting a ballot by mail?

Oct. 28, 2025

Is the request deadline a postmark or receipt deadline?

Received

What is the deadline for returning a voted ballot by mail?

Nov. 4, 2025

Is the return deadline a postmark or receipt deadline?

Received

Are there notary or witness requirements?

N/A


Beginning with the April 28, 2020, primary election, all Pennsylvania voters are eligible to cast absentee ballots. The change came about as a result of SB421, an omnibus election law bill which Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf (D) signed into law on October 31, 2019.[8][9]

Local election officials


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Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.


Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony

In Pennsylvania, people convicted of a felony automatically regain their voting rights upon completion of their incarceration, with the exception of violations of the Pennsylvania Election Code, which bar people from voting for four years after conviction for the offense.

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[10]


Election administration agencies

Election agencies

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See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in Pennsylvania can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Pennsylvania County Election Officials

Click here for a list

Pennsylvania Secretary of State; Bureau of Elections

North Office Building, Room 210
401 North Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120-0060
Toll free: 1-877-868-3772
Email: ra-votereg@pa.gov
Website: https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/vote.html

Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission

Finance Building, Room 309
613 North Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120-0400
Phone: 717-783-1610
Toll free: 800-932-0936
Fax: 717-787-0806
Email: https://www.ethicsforms.pa.gov/Forms/ContactUs
Website: https://www.ethics.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov


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State of Election Administration Legislation Reports

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See also

Elections in Pennsylvania


External links

Footnotes