HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania voters seeking to cast ballots by mail in the Nov. 3 general election face an Oct. 27 application deadline, with more than 1 million mail ballot applications already approved statewide.
County election boards must receive applications for mail-in or absentee ballots by 5 p.m. Oct. 27, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State.
Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt urged voters planning to use mail ballots to apply early enough to receive, complete and return them before Election Day.
“Those who prefer to vote by mail should apply today to ensure they have time to receive, mark, and return their ballot by Election Day,” Schmidt said.
Completed mail ballots must reach a voter’s county elections office by 8 p.m. Nov. 3. Ballots received after the deadline cannot be counted.
Voters should place completed ballots in the yellow secrecy envelope marked “official election ballot,” seal that envelope inside the outer return envelope, and sign and date the outer envelope. The department also advises voters to check both sides of their ballot when marking their selections.
Some counties offer ballot drop boxes or other drop-off locations.
Pennsylvanians also have the option of requesting, completing and returning a mail ballot during a single visit to their county elections office through the close of business Oct. 27. The Department of State recommends checking office hours and ballot availability before visiting.
Voters who receive a mail ballot but decide to vote at their polling place on Election Day can do so if they bring their mail ballot materials and surrender them.
Those who requested a mail ballot but did not receive it, or no longer have the materials to surrender, may cast a provisional ballot at their polling place.
The state’s voter registration deadline for the Nov. 3 election is Oct. 19.
Pennsylvania provides election information, county election office contacts and a polling-place locator at vote.pa.gov. The site is available in English, Spanish and Chinese and includes information for first-time voters, mail and absentee voters, elderly and disabled voters, and members of the military.
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