Billy Penn
Who’s running for Philly mayor? A regularly updated candidate tracker
From experience to endorsements, a quick way to stay up to date with the race.
2 years ago
File photo: Voters wait in line outside a polling place in Philadelphia. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)
Below are deadlines specific to voting in the May primary.
The deadline for Pennsylvanians to register to vote for the primary election was May 1. 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 will be at least 18 on or before Election Day.
People who are incarcerated for felonies can’t vote under state law. People who are serving time for lesser charges or are out on probation, parole, or house arrest are eligible.
The deadline to request a mail or absentee ballot was 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9.
Here’s everything you need to know about filling out and returning your mail ballot.
The last day to vote early in person was Tuesday, May 9.
Pennsylvania has a closed primary system, which means that only Democrats and Republicans can vote for their party’s nominees to run in the Nov. 7 general election.
However, people who don’t belong to the two major parties can still vote on local ballot questions.
Completed mail 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, voters can drop 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 until Tuesday, May 9. Voters can opt for an all-in-one visit to their county election office, where they can apply for a mail ballot, have an election official verify their eligibility, and cast their ballot.
Here’s everything you need to know about filling out and returning your mail ballot.
For those who choose to vote by mail, counties are providing secure drop box locations for ballots.
Once announced, the drop-off locations for Bucks, Chesco, Delco, Montco, and Philly can be found online. Billy Penn also has a map of drop boxes across Philadelphia.
Voters can check the status of their mail ballot 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 place online.
Voters can find their polling place online.
Voters who receive an absentee or mail ballot can opt to vote in person on Election Day. To do so, voters must bring their ballot and the pre-addressed outer return envelope to be voided. After they surrender their ballot and envelope 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 place. The provisional ballot will be reviewed by the county board of elections post-Election Day to determine whether it will be counted.
In Pennsylvania, voters will weigh in on candidates for the state Supreme Court and intermediate appellate courts.
Here are complete guides to the candidates for state Supreme Court (leer en español) and candidates for Commonwealth and Superior Courts (leer en español).
In Philadelphia, voters will weigh in on races with massive implications for the city’s future. For a voter cheat sheet, check out Billy Penn’s Procrastinator’s Guide to the 2023 primary election.
A crowded field of candidates is vying to succeed Mayor Jim Kenney. Here’s who’s running to become Philly’s next mayor. Unsure who will get your vote? Find out which candidates best match your positions on the issues using Billy Penn’s Meet Your Mayor quiz.
On City Council, every seat is up for grabs, including seven at-large seats and 10 district-level seats. Here’s a breakdown of the people running for City Council.
A number of candidates are running to become Philly’s fiscal watchdog after former City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart resigned to run for mayor. Here’s a breakdown of controller hopefuls.
Philadelphia voters will also weigh in on a number of ballot questions:
Voters can look up a sample ballot based on their address.