How To Vote In Person When You're Registered To Vote By Mail

Voting by mail-in or absentee ballot is safe, secure, and like shooting fish in a barrel.

In Pennsylvania, you have two options for mail ballots.

Mail-in ballot – Any qualified voter may employ for a mail-in election. You may only request this ballot without a reason.
Absentee ballot – If yous plan to be out of the municipality on election day or if you have a disability or disease that prevents you from going to your polling identify on ballot day, you can asking this ballot type, which still requires you to list a reason for your election.

In order to request either ballot type, you must be registered to vote. Check Your Registration Status to review your registration information.

Quick links

Deadlines for the May 17 Primary Election

May x, 2022 at 5 p.m. - APPLICATIONS for a mail-in or absentee ballot must exist received by your county election board.
May 17, 2022 at 8 p.m. – VOTED BALLOTS must be RECEIVED by your county election office - postmarks are not enough.

Missed the deadline? If you have an emergency (such as an unexpected disease or disability or last-minute absence from your municipality) you may all the same exist able to get a ballot afterwards the borderline. Observe information about how to become an emergency absentee ballot.

How do I asking a postal service-in or absentee ballot?

Any registered voter may request a mail-in election. Absentee ballots can be requested past voters with disabilities or an disease that prevents them from going to their polling place on ballot day, or those who will be absent-minded from their municipality on Election Day. Request forms must exist received past your county ballot board by 5 pm on May ten, 2022.

Accordion

What'due south the annual mail-in ballot asking?

You now have the option to request to be added to the annual mail-in election request list where you'll receive an application to renew your mail-in ballot request each year. Once your request is approved, you will automatically receive ballots for the remainder of the year, and you do not need to submit an awarding for each election.

Acquire more most the annual mail-in ballot request.

Third Party Ballot Delivery for Mail Voting

If you have a inability that prevents you from applying in person for your mail ballot or delivering your mail service ballot, you lot may designate an agent to deliver your ballot materials for you. Y'all must designate the agent in writing using this form or a form provided by your county.

Accessible Remote Election Mark Solution for mail voting

The Department of State is committed to increasing accessibility for voters with disabilities. Pennsylvania voters with disabilities now take the opportunity to mark their absentee or mail-in ballot electronically. Learn more almost the accessible remote ballot marking solution.

How practise I vote and render my mail-in or absentee ballot?

Beneath are general steps on how to vote, prepare, and return your post election. Exist certain to follow the instructions included with your ballot. Contact your county election office if you have any questions.

Under Pennsylvania law, voters must return their own ballots. The just exceptions to this are for voters with a disability who take designated someone in writing to evangelize their ballot.

Footstep 1:

Read the instructions carefully and mark your ballot. Be sure to complete the front and dorsum of each folio.

Footstep 2:

Seal your election in the inner secrecy envelope that indicates "official ballot ballot." Practice not brand any marks on the inner secrecy envelope.

Your ballot must be enclosed and sealed in the inner secrecy envelope that indicates "official ballot ballot" or it will non be counted.

Step 3:

Seal the inner secrecy envelope in the pre-addressed outer render envelope. Complete, sign and date the voter'due south announcement on the outside of the outer return envelope.

If you do not sign and appointment beneath the declaration on the return envelope your ballot will not be counted.

Step 4:

Return your voted ballot to the county ballot board. Absentee and Mail-in Ballots must be received by 8 pm on ballot day at your county election board. To ensure your election is received by the deadline, render the ballot as presently as possible.

You can postal service your ballot.

Using the return envelope supplied with your ballot, make certain yous employ the proper postage (if needed) and that information technology arrives to your county election board by 8 pm on election day. Postmarks do non count. If your ballot is not received by the county ballot board by 8 pm on election day, it will not be counted

You can mitt-deliver your ballot earlier 8 pm on election twenty-four hour period to your:

canton election part or
other officially designated site
Some counties are providing drib-boxes for mail ballots.

Where do I return my ballot?

Voters may return their voted mail-in or absentee ballot to their county election board of election office during that office'due south business hours, or some other officially designated location. Ballots must exist received by your county election lath before 8 pm on Election Day.

Voting early in-person by mail-in or absentee ballot

If you are a registered Pennsylvania voter, you can use the early in-person voting choice.

Every bit soon as ballots are set, you can request, receive, vote and cast your post-in or absentee ballot all in one visit to your county ballot lath or other officially designated site.

With this pick, there is no need for mail service at all, and you tin can cast your vote at your convenience. Learn more than most voting early in-person past mail service-in or absentee ballot.

Identification for Postal service Voting

In order to apply for an absentee or mail-in ballot, you must supply proof of identification. Uniformed and overseas citizens and voters who qualify under the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Human activity do not demand to show ID. All other voters must use one of the following options.

Pick 1

Include one of these ID numbers on your absentee or mail-in election grade:

Current and valid Pennsylvania commuter's license
PennDOT photo ID card

Choice 2

If yous don't have one of the documents listed under selection one, you can include the last 4 digits of your Social Security number on your absentee or mail-in ballot form.

Option three

If y'all don't take i of the documents listed under pick i or a Social Security number, yous tin provide a photocopy of 1 of the following IDs with your absentee or mail-in ballot awarding. The photocopy must show name, a photograph, and an expiration date that is electric current.

U.S. Passport
U.Southward. Armed forces ID (active duty and retired military ID may designate an expiration date that is indefinite). Military dependents' ID must comprise a current expiration engagement.
Employee photo identification issued by Federal, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania county, or Pennsylvania municipal authorities.
Photo identification issued by an accredited Pennsylvania public or private establishment of higher learning.
Photo identification issued by a Pennsylvania care facility, including long-term care facilities, assisted living residences and personal care homes.

Ofttimes Asked Questions

What if I requested a postal service-in or absentee ballot only I didn't receive a ballot, lost my ballot, or changed my listen and want to vote in-person?

If you already submitted a mail-in or absentee ballot, you cannot vote at your polling place on Election 24-hour interval.
If you did not render your mail-in or absentee ballot and you want to vote in person, yous have 2 options:

Bring your ballot and the pre-addressed outer return envelope to your polling place to exist voided. Afterwards you lot surrender your ballot and envelope and sign a declaration, you tin then vote a regular ballot.
If you don't give up your ballot and return envelope, y'all tin can simply vote by provisional ballot at your polling place. Your county ballot board will then verify that y'all did non vote by postal service before counting your conditional ballot.

How do I know if my ballot was accepted and counted?

Under current Pennsylvania police, your mail-in ballot tin can't be opened until Election Day. Therefore, if there's a problem with your mail-in ballot, you lot won't take the opportunity to correct information technology before the ballot. Still, as long every bit you lot followed all the instructions and mailed your completed, signed, dated, and sealed in the inner secrecy envelope, election by Election Day, you don't have to worry.

Why are there two envelopes with my mail service-in ballot?

The smaller secrecy envelope is intended to protect the anonymity of your vote. After you fill out your ballot, you lot must place information technology in the secrecy envelope and seal it.

Practise not brand any marks on this envelope. If you neglect to identify and seal your ballot in this envelope or if you brand marks on this envelope, your ballot will non be counted.

The second, larger envelope is the mailing and declaration envelope. Y'all must use it, even if you are dropping your ballot off at a drop box. Place your secrecy envelope (with your ballot inside) into the mailing and declaration envelope. You must seal it and sign and engagement the annunciation before you tin render your ballot.

Both of these envelopes must be used in order for your vote to count.

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