Voting by mail is safe, secure, and easy. And in Pennsylvania, any qualified voter may apply for a mail-in ballot. You don’t need a reason, as a result of Act 77 passed in 2019.
You can apply for your mail-in ballot online through the Pennsylvania Department of State website. You can also print and complete an application form from this page, then mail the completed application to your county election board office or drop it off at the office in person. Find your local office using this tool.
However you choose to apply, your application must be received by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27 to be eligible to cast your mail-in ballot in the 2026 election. And your completed ballot must be received by your county election board office by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. A postmark by 8 p.m. Nov. 3 is not sufficient. You can mail it in, drop it off in person at the county election board office or, if they’re available in your county, a designated drop box.
To be sure your ballot was accepted and counted, you can track your ballot’s status online through PA Voter Services. If you provided your email address to your county election office at the time you registered to vote or applied for a ballot, you will receive an email notification when your returned ballot is recorded.
Now that you know how to apply for a mail-in ballot, and how to return it, here are some important things to know about voting by mail in Pennsylvania:
DO read the instructions carefully and mark your ballot. Be sure to complete the front and back of each page. Seal your ballot in the yellow envelope marked “official election ballot.” Seal the yellow envelope in the pre-addressed outer return envelope. Sign and write the current date on the voter’s declaration on the outside of the outer return envelope. If you do not complete the declaration on the return envelope your ballot will not be counted.
DON’T make any stray marks on the yellow envelope. Your ballot must be enclosed and sealed in the yellow envelope marked “official election ballot” or it will not be counted.
DO return your mail-in ballot as soon as possible.
DON’T attempt to drop a completed mail-in ballot off at your polling place. Ballots requested by mail will not be accepted. If you received a mail ballot but did not complete it, you may surrender your incomplete mail ballot, along with both envelopes, at your polling place and vote in person.
DO seek assistance completing your mail-in or absentee ballot if you need help due to a disability or because you have limited English proficiency. If a voter is unable to complete their mail-in ballot independently, they may receive assistance from a person they choose.
DON’T have someone else drop off your mail-in ballot at the county election board office. The person who submitted the ballot request must be the person who turns in the completed ballot submission at the county office. However, if you have a disability that prevents you from applying in person for your mail ballot or delivering your mail ballot, you may designate an agent to deliver your ballot materials for you. You must designate the agent in writing using this form or a form provided by your county.
Are you ready to vote? Make sure to check your voter registration status, see who’s on your ballot, and make a voting plan here.
