Election Day · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
How to vote in Pennsylvania
The deadlines, early voting, mail ballots and ID rules for Pennsylvania, and what happens after the polls close. Every fact links to the Pennsylvania Department of State or the law it comes from. Rules change, and courts sometimes change them close to an election, so confirm anything you are relying on with the state.
Checked against official sources on October 7.
Key dates
- Register online by
Monday, October 19
- Register by mail by
Monday, October 19
Last day to register before the November election.
- Register in person by
Monday, October 19
- Same-day registration
No
No same-day registration; the deadline is October 19.
- Early voting
No in-person early voting
The Department of State's Mail Ballot Availability page says it is continuously updated on which of the 67 counties have ballots ready for on-demand voting (apply, complete and return in one visit). No statewide start date is set.
- How early voting works
Pennsylvania has no in-person early voting, but you can vote early 'on demand': go to your county election office (or another designated site) once ballots are ready, apply for a mail ballot, mark it and submit it in one visit. Bring your PennDOT ID number or the last four digits of your SSN.
- Request a mail ballot by
Tuesday, October 27
Received by your county election office by 5 p.m. Emergency absentee ballots are available after that for sudden illness, disability or absence.
- Return your mail ballot by
Tuesday, November 3
Received, not postmarked: by your county election office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. A postmark by then is not enough. Seal the ballot in the yellow secrecy envelope and sign and date the outer envelope, or it won't count. You must return your own ballot unless you have a disability and designated an agent in writing.
- Election Day polling hours
7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
If you are in line by 8 p.m., you can vote.
Voting by mail
- Who can vote by mail
Any voter can vote by mail
Any registered voter may get a no-excuse mail-in ballot. A separate absentee ballot is for voters away from their municipality or with an illness or disability. Voters can join an annual mail ballot list.
- Drop boxes
Yes
Drop boxes and other return sites are set by each county; the state lists them by county.
- Ballots arriving after Election Day
Not counted — your ballot must arrive by the deadline
Civilian mail ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Military and overseas ballots submitted by 11:59 p.m. November 2 count if received by 5 p.m. November 10.
ID at the polls
- The rule
No ID needed for most voters
No ID is needed unless it's your first time voting at a polling place, when you must show a photo or non-photo ID (Pennsylvania license or PennDOT ID, government or student ID, or a voter registration card or a non-photo government ID with your name and address).
- What to bring
Most voters don't need ID. If it's your first time voting at your polling place, bring a photo ID, or a non-photo document such as your voter registration card or a government ID showing your name and address.
When will we know results in Pennsylvania?
How fast results come in depends mostly on when the polls close and when election officials are allowed to start on mail ballots. Totals shown on election night are unofficial until the state certifies them.
- Last polls close
8 p.m. Eastern time
- Mail ballots can be processed from
Tuesday, November 3
Pre-canvassing (opening envelopes and preparing ballots) may not begin before 7 a.m. on Election Day. Results of the pre-canvass may not be disclosed before polls close.
- Mail ballots can be counted from
Tuesday, November 3
Counties start canvassing mail ballots that weren't pre-canvassed from 8 p.m. on Election Day, and no later than the third day after. Counties with an Election Integrity Grant must pre-canvass from 7 a.m. and canvass from 8 p.m. without stopping.
- Counties finish their count by
Monday, November 23
Last day for county boards of elections to certify returns to the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
- State certifies results
No fixed date: the Secretary of the Commonwealth tabulates and certifies after the counties certify (county deadline Monday, November 23)
Election Code § 1409: on receiving certified county returns the Secretary of the Commonwealth "shall forthwith proceed to tabulate, compute and canvass" statewide votes and certify the tabulation. § 302(k) requires county boards to certify to the Secretary no later than the third Monday after the election (November 23).
- Automatic recount
0.5% or less (statewide)
The Secretary must order a statewide recount by 5 p.m. November 12 if a statewide candidate or question lost by 0.5% or less, unless the losing candidate waives it in writing by noon that day (25 P.S. §3154(g)). It must begin by November 18 and finish by noon November 24.
- Requested recount
Yes, by voter petition rather than candidate request: three electors of a district petition the court of common pleas to open the ballot box; $50 deposit per petition
Election Code §§ 1701-1702: three qualified electors of an election district file a verified petition alleging fraud or error with a $50 cash deposit (or $100 bond), no later than five days after the county board finishes its computational canvass. Margin-triggered recounts are separate (§ 1404(g)).
- Runoff
No runoff — the candidate with the most votes wins
Winners are the candidates with the highest number of votes, e.g. §§ 401, 1404.
- Ranked-choice voting
Not used
- Votes needed to pass a ballot measure
A simple majority
Simple majority. Pa. Const. art. XI, § 1: a proposed amendment becomes part of the Constitution if "approved by a majority of those voting thereon."
- New governor takes office
Tuesday, January 19, 2027
Pa. Const. art. IV, § 3: "The Governor shall hold his office during four years from the third Tuesday of January next ensuing his election." The third Tuesday of January 2027 is January 19.
What’s on your ballot
Every contest you will vote on, from Congress to school board, with each candidate’s positions and record and the arguments for and against them.
Confirm this with the official source
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Pennsylvania Department of State.