The introvert’s guide to voting in the 2024 election

Want to exercise your right to vote while having limited interaction with others? We’ve got some tips for you.

We get it: Not everyone is looking to socialize when they vote. While some gregarious types may enjoy running into friends and neighbors at their local polling place, those who are more introverted likely just want to vote and get on with their day, without having to talk to anyone. 

Seeing as 2024 is a presidential election year, the polls should be pretty crowded on Election Day, which falls on Tuesday, Nov. 5 this year. So if you’re looking for tips on how to exercise your right to vote while having limited interaction with others, we’ve got a few suggestions.

Vote at off-peak hours

If you want to vote in person, you can minimize your interactions with others by voting at off-peak hours.

This can vary, of course, from location to location — what’s considered an off-peak time in, say, Lebanon County could be prime time at the polls in Allegheny County. But, generally speaking, the peak voting times in Pennsylvania tend to be right when the polls open at 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. (before work for many),11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (lunch time for many), and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., when the polls close (after work for many). All eligible voters in line at their polling place at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote, regardless of the length of the line.

Find a window between those peak times that works for you. You’ll still have to interact with the poll workers who check you in to vote and tell you which booth to use. But you should be able to get in and out fairly quickly, and with minimal human interaction, at off-peak times.

Vote by mail

This is probably your best bet at avoiding a crowd on Election Day.

All registered Pennsylvania voters have the right to vote by mail — you don’t have to provide a reason or prove that you’ll be out of town. Simply preferring to vote by mail is reason enough. 

The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 29. You can apply 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.

Once you have received and filled out your absentee or mail-in ballot, return it by mail or by hand to your local county election board office or place it in a designated dropbox if your country has them. Find local county election office info here.

Ballots must be received by your county election board office by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

In-person early voting 

This is probably your second-best bet if you’re looking to minimize interactions with other people.

Registered Pennsylvania voters can vote early in person by visiting their county board of elections office, filling out a “mail ballot” request on-site, and completing their ballot before leaving the office. While you’ll technically be voting via “mail-in ballot,” you can complete the entire process in person without using the mail — and probably without having to navigate much of a crowd. 

To get exact dates, times, and locations for in-person early voting, find your local county board of elections here. You will need your PennDOT ID number or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. Refer to the list of ID requirements for mail-in or absentee ballots for more information.

The last day to vote early in person is Tuesday, Oct. 29. 

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.