Get daily updates from WHYY News!
Sign upFile photo: Voters wait in line outside a polling place in Philadelphia. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)
Below are deadlines specific to voting in Pennsylvania’s 2024 primary election.
The deadline to register to vote for the primary election was Monday, April 8. Pennsylvanians 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. on Tuesday, April 16.
Here’s everything you need to know about filling out, and returning your mail ballot.
Once ballots are ready, Pennsylvanians who are registered to vote may apply for mail ballots in person at their county board of elections offices, then complete and cast the ballots while there.
Pennsylvanians can also vote early in person by mail ballot 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. on Tuesday, April 16.
For those who choose to vote by mail, counties are providing secure drop-box locations for ballots.
Once available, official drop-box locations for Bucks, Chesco, Delco, Montco, and Philadelphia can be found online.
Here’s everything you need to know about returning your mail ballot (leer en español).
Pennsylvania has a closed primary system, which means that only Democrats and Republicans can vote for their party’s nominees to run in the general election.
Voters interested in changing their party affiliation may update their voter registration online, by mail, or in person using the Pennsylvania voter registration application form. On the form, such voters would select the box that says “Change of Party.”
Voters looking to change their party affiliation and participate in the 2024 primary must have do so by Monday, April 8.
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 is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16.
Here’s everything you need to know about filling out and returning your mail ballot (leer en español).
Voters can check the status of their mail ballots online.
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 President Joe Biden remain in the White House.
As U.S. Sen. Bob Casey runs for a fourth term, Democrats are trying to hold onto their narrow majority. The contest is expected to be one of the nation’s most expensive and closely watched races.
Three relatively unknown candidates — William Parker, Brandi Tomasetti and Joseph Vodarka — were booted from the primary ballot by the state Supreme Court.
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.
Here’s a complete guide to the primary candidates for Pennsylvania attorney general (leer en español).
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.
Here’s a breakdown of the primary candidates for Pennsylvania treasurer (leer en español).
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. Here’s a complete guide to the primary candidates for Pennsylvania auditor general (leer en español).
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:
» READ MORE: Philly’s ballot question and explanatory statement in Spanish and Chinese.
Meir Rinde, of WHYY’s Billy Penn, contributed reporting.
Get daily updates from WHYY News!
Sign up