Pennsylvania Voter Registration Made Easy

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Every vote counts, and Pennsylvania voters have decided plenty of close races by just a few thousand votes. If you want your voice heard in the next election, you need to understand the rules before you head to the polls or before you request a mail-in ballot from your couch.

This guide walks through everything you need to know about how to vote in Pennsylvania, from checking your eligibility to submitting your ballot on time.

Check Your Eligibility First

Pennsylvania keeps voter eligibility simple. You qualify to vote if you meet these requirements:

• You’re a U.S. citizen
• You’ve lived in Pennsylvania for at least 30 days before the election
• You’ll be at least 18 years old on Election Day

If you check all three boxes, you’re ready to move on to registration.

Complete Your Pennsylvania voter registration

Pennsylvania requires voters to register before they can cast a ballot. The good news is that the state offers three easy ways to get registered.

Register online. Head to vote.pa.gov and fill out the state’s online application. You’ll need your Pennsylvania driver’s license or state ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number, to complete the process. Online registration typically takes just a few minutes.

Register by mail. Download and print a paper application, fill it out, and mail it to your county voter registration office. Make sure your county receives the form by the deadline, because postmark dates don’t count in Pennsylvania.

Register in person. Visit your county voter registration office, a PennDOT Photo License or Driver’s License Center, or another designated government agency to register face-to-face.

The Registration Deadline

Pennsylvania requires you to register at least 15 days before an election. Don’t wait until the last minute. County offices can get backed up as deadlines approach, and a late application won’t count for that election.

If you’ve moved, changed your name, or want to switch your party affiliation, you’ll need to submit a new registration form. Pennsylvania runs closed primaries, so you must register with a party at least 15 days before a primary election if you want to vote in that party’s contest.

Decide How You’ll Cast Your Ballot

Pennsylvania gives voters flexibility here, thanks to Act 77, the state’s no-excuse mail-in voting law.

Vote by mail. Any registered Pennsylvania voter can request a mail-in ballot without providing a reason. Once you receive your ballot, fill it out carefully and return it and either by mail or by dropping it at a designated location.

Vote early in person. Pennsylvania doesn’t run traditional early voting centers, but you can still vote early by visiting your county election office, requesting a mail ballot, filling it out, and submitting it all in one visit.

Vote on Election Day. Head to your assigned polling place between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Not sure where to go? Your county voter registration office can confirm your polling location.

Do You Need an ID to Vote?

Pennsylvania doesn’t require most voters to show ID at the polls. The exception applies if you’re voting for the first time in Pennsylvania or voting at a new polling place. In that case, bring an acceptable form of identification, such as a driver’s license or another government-issued photo ID.

A Few Extra Notes for Special Circumstances

• Students can choose to register at their school address or their family’s home address, whichever they consider their primary residence. Just remember you can only be registered and vote in one location.
• Military and overseas voters get more flexibility. Active-duty service members, eligible family members, hospitalized veterans, and U.S. citizens living abroad can register online or by mail at any time, with a registration deadline of two weeks before the election.

Pennsylvania makes the process fairly straightforward once you know the steps. Make your plan now so you’re not scrambling as Election Day approaches.