Question and Answer Guide to Election Day in PennsylvaniaAm I eligible to vote in Pennsylvania?You can vote in Pennsylvania if you are a U.S. citizen, a Pennsylvania resident, at least 18 years old, and you have registered to vote at least 30 days before the election. Once you have registered to vote, you are not required to register again unless you change your residence, name, or political party affiliation. Can I vote in the primary?You can vote in a party's primary if you are registered with that political party on your voter registration application. How do I know if I am registered to vote?You can confirm your registration by contacting your county board of elections or by calling 1-877-VOTESPA. Where do I vote?Your polling place will be written on your county-issued voter ID card. If you do not have your card, you can call your county elections office or use the polling place locator on the Department of State's Web site at: www.votespa.com When are the polls open?From 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. You must be allowed to vote if you are in line when the polls close. Is my employer required to provide time off for me to vote?No. Pennsylvania does not require employers to provide time off to their employees to vote. Can I vote by absentee ballot?Applications to vote by absentee ballot must be completed, signed by the voter and received by the county board of elections no later than 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before Election Day. Emergency absentee ballots may be available to some voters from your county elections office. What if I have been convicted of a crime?If you have been convicted of a misdemeanor, you have the right to vote - but you must vote by absentee ballot if you are still in jail. If you have been convicted of a felony, you have the right to vote upon release from jail, even if you are on probation or parole. What if I am a college student?College students in Pennsylvania may register and vote in PA even if they are classified as being "out of state" by their college or university. But you must choose whether to register at your school residence or home residence. You must vote where you are registered or by absentee ballot. What if I have moved since the last election?| What is a provisional ballot? A provisional ballot is used to record a vote when there is some question regarding a voter's eligibility. You have the right to vote by provisional ballot if: - Your name does not appear on the district register (poll book) and election officials cannot determine your registration status, even though you are properly registered and eligible to vote in the election district.
- You do not have an approved form of ID the first time you appear to vote in an election district.
- An election official asserts that you are not eligible to vote.
County election officials will examine the provisional ballots within seven days after an election to determine whether you were entitled to vote in the election at the election district where you voted. After this seven-day period, you can find out if your provisional ballot was counted, partially counted or not counted by calling 1-877-VOTESPA. |
If you have updated your registration at least 30 days before the election, you will have a new polling place. If you did not update your registration or did so less than 30 days before the election, vote at your old polling place. You do not need to use a provisional ballot. What if I go to the wrong polling place?If you go to the wrong polling place on Election Day, you should call or ask the election official to call the County Board of Elections to see if and where you are eligible to vote. If you cannot determine your polling place, you can vote at any polling place by a provisional ballot. What if I'm not on the voter roll?If a poll worker says you cannot vote, but you think you can, you can vote using a provisional ballot. Do I have to show ID?If you have voted at your polling place before, you do not need to show an ID. All voters who appear at a polling place for the first time must show one form of ID. Approved forms of ID include valid Pennsylvania drivers' licenses, U.S. Passports, student and employer IDs, voter ID cards, firearm permits, and current utility bills, bank statements and paychecks (so long as they show your name and residence address). If you do not bring your ID on Election Day, you can vote with a provisional ballot. What if I need help voting?Ask if there are alternative language ballots available. Polling places that serve large numbers of voters with limited English proficiency are required to have voting materials in other languages. If there are no materials available in your language, you can bring someone with you into the voting booth to translate. You will need to fill out a form at the polling place before voting unless your registration record indicates the need for assistance. What if my polling place is not accessible?If you have a disability or are at least 65 years of age and have been assigned to a polling place deemed inaccessible by the county board of elections, you can request an alternative ballot and return it by than 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before Election Day. If you have just learned that your polling place is inaccessible, contact your county board of elections to get an emergency alternative ballot. If you have a problem related to accessibility issues on Election Day, you can contact the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania at 1-800-692-7443 or 1-877-375-7139 (TODD). What if the computer screen or ballot is not in my language?Ask if there are alternative language ballots available. Polling places that serve large numbers of voters with limited English proficiency are required to have voting materials in other languages. If there are no materials available in your language, you can bring someone with you into the voting booth to translate. You will need to fill out a form at the polling place before voting unless your registration record indicates the need for assistance. What if I don't know how to use the voting machine?Ask a poll worker to show you how the machine works before you vote. You can view demonstrations of each county's voting system by going to www.votespa.com and clicking on "How to Vote" and then "Voting System Demo." What if the voting machine malfunctions?Tell a poll worker immediately. What if I don't know who to vote for in a race or how to vote on a question?You do not have to vote in every race or question. You can vote in all of them, some of them, or none of them. What if someone tries to intimidate me?Tell a poll worker right away. If the poll worker is the problem, ask inside and outside the polling place for a poll watcher. If any of those people asks who you are voting for or will not help you, call your county's elections office. What if I have a complaint about voting?On Election Day, most complaints can be handled by the judge of elections at your polling place. In addition, candidates often recruit volunteers to serve as poll watchers, and they are available to help resolve disputes so you can vote. If any of those people asks who you are voting for or if they cannot resolve your problem, contact your county board of elections. As a last resort, you can vote by provisional ballot. You can also file a formal complaint with the Pennsylvania Department of State. Where to Go for Further AssistanceFor general election information and contact information for your county board elections: PA Department of State
www.votespa.com
1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772) Make Your Vote Count: Pennsylvania Election Day Guide (PDF 150K)
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