In September 2025, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled in Center for Coalfield Justice v. Washington County Board of Elections that mail-in ballot voters are entitled to be notified if they make a disqualifying mistake on their ballot packet so that they can have an opportunity to preserve their vote by casting a provisional ballot on Election Day. This was a win for due process. At a minimum, counties must provide timely notification by entering the correct codes into the Pennsylvania Statewide Uniform Registry of Elections (SURE) system, enabling voters to track their ballot status and take action on Election Day.
Here are step-by-step instructions for tracking your ballot:
Step 1
Head to the PA Voter Services website → “Election Ballot Status.” Enter your name, birth date, and county to check your ballot’s status.
Step 2
If there’s an issue flagged (like missing a signature or secrecy envelope), don’t panic — you have options!
- If your county allows “curing,” they will give you an opportunity to fix your mistake before Election Day. Use our map to see if your county has a curing policy: aclupa.org/noticeandcure.
- If your county doesn’t allow curing, you have the right to cast a provisional ballot at your polling place on Election Day. If you have a disability and can't get to the polls, ask your county about a Designated Agent.
Your Right To Receive Notice
The PA Supreme Court ruled! Counties must notify you if you made a disqualifying mistake on your ballot. If you added your email when applying, you’ll get ballot updates straight to your inbox.
Other Ways You Might Receive Notice
Depending on your county, you may receive a phone call, text, or an automatically returned ballot.
What To Do if Something Is Wrong
Can’t see the status of your ballot? Call your county to check on your ballot. If your county doesn’t tell you the status of your ballot, contact us at vote@aclupa.org.
