In Pennsylvania, you have two options for mail ballots.
In order to request either ballot type, you must be registered to vote. Check Your Registration Status to review your registration information.
Missed the deadline? If you have an emergency (such as an unexpected illness or disability or last-minute absence from your municipality) you may still be able to get a ballot after the deadline. Find information about how to get an emergency absentee ballot.
Any registered voter may request a mail-in ballot. Absentee ballots can be requested by voters with disabilities or an illness that prevents them from going to their polling place on election day, or those who will be absent from their municipality on Election Day. Request forms must be received by your county election board by 5 pm on November 1, 2022.
Registered voters can apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot online with a valid PA driver’s license or photo I.D. from the PA Department of Transportation (PennDOT) or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
Be sure to:
Military and overseas voters should visit the information for military and overseas voters web page for information on how they can obtain an absentee ballot.
Apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot Solicite la papeleta de voto por correo
Voters who plan to be out of the municipality on election day or have a disability or illness that prevents them from going to their polling place on election day can use the Absentee Ballot Application:
Complete the online request form to have a paper application mailed to you.
Send your mail-in or absentee ballot application to the county election office. The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is one week before the election. Applications must be received by the county election board by 5 pm, November 1, 2022 (one week before the election).
Military and overseas voters should visit the information for military and overseas voters web page for information on how they can obtain an absentee ballot.
You now have the option to request to be added to the annual mail-in ballot 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 application for each election.
Learn more about the annual mail-in ballot request.
If you have a disability that prevents you from applying in person for your mail ballot or delivering your mail ballot, you may designate an agent to deliver your ballot materials for you. You must designate the agent in writing using this form or a form provided by your county.
The Department of State is committed to increasing accessibility for voters with disabilities. Pennsylvania voters with disabilities now have the opportunity to mark their absentee or mail-in ballot electronically. Learn more about the accessible remote ballot marking solution.
Below are general steps on how to vote, prepare, and return your mail ballot. Be sure 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 only exceptions to this are for voters with a disability who have designated someone in writing to deliver their ballot.
Voters may return their voted mail-in or absentee ballot to their county election board of election office during that office’s business hours, or another officially designated location. Ballots must be received by your county election board before 8 pm on Election Day.
If you are a registered Pennsylvania voter, you can use the early in-person voting option.
As soon as ballots are ready, you can request, receive, vote and cast your mail-in or absentee ballot all in one visit to your county election board or other officially designated site.
With this option, there is no need for mail at all, and you can cast your vote at your convenience. Learn more about voting early in-person by mail-in or absentee ballot.
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 ACT do not need to show ID. All other voters must use one of the following options.
Include one of these ID numbers on your absentee or mail-in ballot form:
If you don’t have one of the documents listed under option 1, you can include the last 4 digits of your Social Security number on your absentee or mail-in ballot form.
If you don’t have one of the documents listed under option 1 or a Social Security number, you can provide a photocopy of one of the following IDs with your absentee or mail-in ballot application. The photocopy must show name, a photo, and an expiration date that is current.
Under current Pennsylvania law, your mail-in ballot can’t be opened until Election Day. Therefore, if there’s a problem with your mail-in ballot, you won’t have the opportunity to correct it before the election. Still, as long as you followed all the instructions and mailed your completed, signed, dated, and sealed in the inner secrecy envelope, ballot by Election Day, you don’t have to worry.
The smaller secrecy envelope is intended to protect the anonymity of your vote. After you fill out your ballot, you must place it in the secrecy envelope and seal it.
Do not make any marks on this envelope. If you fail to place and seal your ballot in this envelope or if you make marks on this envelope, your ballot will not be counted.
The second, larger envelope is the mailing and declaration envelope. You 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 date the declaration before you can return your ballot.
Both of these envelopes must be used in order for your vote to count.
In emergency situations (such as an unexpected illness, disability or last-minute absence from your municipality), you can request an Emergency Absentee Ballot after 5 pm on the Tuesday before the election.
The deadline to submit your Emergency Absentee Ballot Application to the County Election Board is 8 pm on Election Day.
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Registered voters can apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot online with a valid PA driver’s license or photo I.D. from the PA Department of Transportation (PennDOT) or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
Be sure to:
Military and overseas voters should visit the information for military and overseas voters web page for information on how they can obtain an absentee ballot.
Apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot Solicite la papeleta de voto por correo
Voters who plan to be out of the municipality on election day or have a disability or illness that prevents them from going to their polling place on election day can use the Absentee Ballot Application:
Complete the online request form to have a paper application mailed to you.
Send your mail-in or absentee ballot application to the county election office. The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is one week before the election. Applications must be received by the county election board by 5 pm, November 1, 2022 (one week before the election).
Military and overseas voters should visit the information for military and overseas voters web page for information on how they can obtain an absentee ballot.
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