In preparation for Pennsylvania’s general election on Nov. 8, Acting Secretary of State Leigh M. Chapman reminds Pennsylvanians they can find comprehensive voting information at vote.pa.gov.
Chapman also reminded Pennsylvanians voting by mail-in or absentee ballot to return their voted ballot immediately, delivering it in person to their county election board or other authorized location. Check vote.pa.gov to find ballot drop-off locations and county election office hours. The deadline for county election boards to receive voted mail ballots is 8 p.m. Nov. 8, Election Day. A postmark by that time does not count.
Voters who are returning completed mail ballots are also urged to sign and date the voter’s declaration on the outer envelope to ensure their vote will be counted.
“The vote.pa.gov site is a one-stop resource for Pennsylvania voters. They can verify their registration, locate their polling place and find out how to return their mail ballot, among other important information,” Chapman said. “We encourage all eligible voters to be fully informed about their rights and to vote in the election.”
Under Pennsylvania law, voters may only 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, or voters who need third-party delivery of their emergency absentee ballot.
Voters who have not voted by mail ballot can vote in person at their polling place on Election Day. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voters who applied for and receive a mail ballot and then decide they want to vote at the polls must bring their mail ballot packet with them to be voided, including the outer return envelope with the voter’s declaration.
If a voter applies for a mail ballot but does not receive it or no longer has the mail ballot and envelopes, they may vote by provisional ballot at the polls on Election Day. Their county board of elections will then verify that they did not vote by mail before counting their provisional ballot.
