Pennsylvania offers three ways to cast your ballot. Every one is equally valid, equally secure, and equally counted. Your complete resource for registering, requesting a mail-in ballot, and understanding how your vote is protected.
Show up at your assigned polling place on election day. Polls open 7am–8pm. Bring valid PA ID or last four digits of your SSN.
Any registered voter can request one — no excuse required. Vote at home, return by mail or official drop box. Barcoded, signature-verified, and trackable.
Vote before election day at your county election office. Face-to-face, no lines, on your schedule in the weeks leading up to the election.
Four independent verification steps apply to every mail-in ballot in Pennsylvania.
Unique barcode assigned at issue
1:1 — every ballot request generates a unique barcode tied exclusively to your voter record. That code travels with your ballot from issuance through final reconciliation.
Signature verified before opening
3× verified — your outer envelope signature is checked against your registration record. Ballots with missing or mismatched signatures are flagged before the inner envelope is touched.
Duplicate voting is system-prevented
0 duplicate votes — if a mail-in ballot has been issued to you and you appear at a polling place, the system flags it automatically. A provisional ballot may be cast, not a second counted vote.
Real-time tracking available
24/7 — Pennsylvania's ballot tracking system confirms the moment your ballot is received and accepted by your county. Available to every voter at vote.pa.gov.
Every step your ballot takes — from the moment you request it to the moment it’s counted and reconciled.
Apply at vote.pa.gov or submit a paper application to your county. A unique barcode is generated and tied to your voter record.
Apply now →Your county mails your ballot and logs it as sent. No one else can request or receive a ballot tied to your record.
Complete your ballot, seal inside the secrecy envelope, then seal that inside the signed outer envelope. Your signature on the outer envelope is required by law.
Return by USPS or official county drop box. Must arrive at your county election office by 8pm on election day. Postmarks do not count.
Signature verified, secrecy envelope checked, ballot extracted and tabulated. Your status is updated in the tracking system at each step.
All dates are for the 2026 Pennsylvania election cycle. Confirm exact dates at vote.pa.gov as they are officially set by the Commonwealth.
Full election calendar →
Must be registered at your current address.
Apply online at vote.pa.gov or by paper.
By mail or official county drop box.
Address changes count — update if you’ve moved.
Request early — allow delivery and return time.
Postmarks do not count. Plan accordingly.
Registration and ballot request deadlines specific to your county — sent before they pass.
Election day reminders with your polling place information.
Mail-in ballot tracking alerts when your ballot is received and accepted.
Timely election reminders tailored to your county and registration status. No spam.
