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Sign upRobert and Joan Greenstein, accompanied by their dogs, Erda and Orion, look over a sample ballot before voting at the Museum of the American Revolution in Old City. (Emma Lee/WHYY)
Below are deadlines specific to voting in Pennsylvania’s 2024 general election.
The deadline for Pennsylvanians to register to vote for the general election was Monday, Oct 21. Residents can find out whether they are registered to vote online.
Anyone can register to vote, so long as they will have been a U.S. citizen for at least 30 days before the election, are a resident of Pennsylvania and are going to be at least 18 on or before Election Day.
Under state law, people who are incarcerated for felonies can’t vote. However, people who are serving time for lesser charges or are out on probation, parole or house arrest are eligible.
Completed mail or absentee ballot applications must have been received by county boards of elections by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29.
Bucks County voters now have until 5 p.m. Friday to request a mail ballot in person. A judge extended the deadline after Republicans filed a lawsuit challenging county voting officials who turned away voters in line for applications before the original deadline.
Pennsylvanians can also vote early in person by mail ballot at their county board of elections offices through 8 p.m. on Election Day, as long as they have applied for a mail ballot before the deadline. The deadline to apply for a mail ballot in person was 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29
For those who choose to vote by mail, counties are providing secure drop-box locations for ballots.
Official mail ballot drop box locations for Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County and Philadelphia County can be found online.
Completed mail or absentee ballots must be received by county boards of elections by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Postmarks do not count.
If there isn’t enough time to mail the ballot, a voter can drop it off in person at their county elections office or, if available, at a county drop box.
Pennsylvanians can also vote early in person by mail ballot through 8 p.m. on Election Day, as long as they apply for a mail ballot before the deadline. The deadline to apply for a mail ballot in person was 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29
Here’s what you need to know to fill out and return your mail ballot in Pennsylvania.
Voters can check the status of their mail ballots online.
The Supreme Court ruled Friday that Pennsylvania must process thousands of provisional ballots cast by voters whose mail-in ballots were rejected, rejecting a Republican challenge.
Pennsylvanians who would prefer to vote the old-fashioned way can do so in person on Election Day at the polls, which will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters can find their polling places online.
Voters can find their polling places online.
Voters who receive absentee or mail ballots can opt to vote in person on Election Day. To do so, voters must bring their ballots and the pre-addressed outer return envelopes to be voided. After they surrender their ballots and envelopes and sign a declaration, they can vote using a regular ballot.
Voters who request a mail ballot but don’t receive it, or don’t have it to surrender, may vote by provisional ballot at their polling places. The provisional ballots will be reviewed by the county board of elections post–Election Day to determine whether they will be counted.
Here’s a look at the major races, and who’s running for what:
For Democrats, Pennsylvania is considered a must-win to help Democrats remain in the White House.
The attorney general is the state’s chief law enforcement official. They oversee hundreds of lawyers who prosecute cases — criminal and some civil — on behalf of state agencies and enforce consumer protection laws.
Attorney General Michelle Henry, who took over after Josh Shapiro left the AG’s office for the governorship, is not running.
The state treasurer manages tax revenues and other funds, pays state employees, makes disbursements for state agencies, oversees investments, manages a college savings program and runs other programs.
The auditor is the state’s fiscal watchdog, conducting financial audits of state agencies, local governments, school districts, public pension programs and certain universities. The auditor also occasionally conducts performance audits of prisons and mental health centers.
As U.S. Sen. Bob Casey runs for a fourth term, Democrats are trying to hold onto their narrow majority.
Voters will elect 17 candidates from the state’s 17 U.S. House districts to serve as representatives of Congress.
Not sure which U.S. House district you’re in? Enter your address to find out. Races for the districts below are within the Greater Philadelphia area:
Voters will elect candidates for all 203 seats in the Pennsylvania state House.
A majority of the state’s legislative races are non-competitive, meaning a handful of close races across the commonwealth will decide which party controls the state House.
In 2022, a new legislative map helped the Democrats snatch control of the state House for the first time in more than a decade. They now hold a one-seat majority.
Not sure which Pa. state House district you’re in? Enter your address to find out. Races for the districts below are within the Greater Philadelphia area:
Voters across the state will have the chance to weigh in on various ballot measures. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect:
Editor’s note: WHYY News’ Emily Neil and Meir Rinde, of WHYY’s Billy Penn, contributed reporting.
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