With one week to go until the deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot in Pennsylvania, all 67 counties in the state have sent ballots to those whose applications have been approved.
According to the Department of State, more than 1.2 million Pennsylvanians have been approved for mail-in ballots as of Tuesday—fewer than at this point in the 2022 or 2024 elections—with registered Democrats representing the overwhelming majority of those applications, 782,985 to 291,618 Republicans.
As of Tuesday, 634,660 mail-in ballots have already been cast, 428,546 by Democrats and 150,418 by Republicans.
Despite President Donald Trump’s efforts to restrict mail voting ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, it remains business as usual in Pennsylvania.
Trump’s last attempt to restrict mail voting was shot down by the United States Supreme Court in September.
“Eligible Pennsylvanians who choose to vote by mail should have confidence that they can continue to do so safely and securely,” said Secretary of State Al Schmidt, shortly after the Supreme Court denied Trump’s attempt to enact new United States Postal Service rules to limit mail voting.
How to apply for a mail-in ballot
You can apply for your mail-in ballot through the 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. next 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. 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.
How do I know if my mail ballot has been counted?
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.
On-demand voting is also available
While Pennsylvania does not offer early, in-person voting at polling places, on-demand voting is available, where registered voters can apply for, complete, and submit their mail ballot all in one visit at their county election office. Check the Department of State’s website to see if it’s currently available in your county.
