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Common questions

Do I need an excuse to vote by mail in Pennsylvania?

No. Since 2020, any registered Pennsylvania voter may request a mail-in ballot for any reason. You do not need to be sick, traveling, or elderly.

What is the difference between a mail-in ballot and an absentee ballot?

A mail-in ballot is for any voter, no reason required. An absentee ballot is the older category for voters who will be out of the county or have an illness or disability. For most people, the mail-in ballot is the right choice, and the process is the same.

I do not have a driver's license. Can I still vote by mail?

Yes. Online or on paper, you can use the last four digits of your Social Security number instead — online, you'll also upload a picture of your signature. If you have no Social Security number either, the paper application lets you send a copy of another photo ID, such as a passport. Call us and we will mail you the paper form.

Can I get a mail ballot automatically for every election?

You can join the annual mail ballot request list. You will then be mailed a ballot for each election for the rest of that calendar year, and the state sends you a renewal application each February. It is not permanent — you must renew every year.

Someone offered to mail my ballot for me. Is that allowed?

In Pennsylvania you must return your own ballot. The only exception is for voters with a disability who have filed the state's designated-agent form. Do not hand your sealed ballot to a canvasser, a volunteer, or anyone from our firm.

I changed my mind and want to vote in person.

If you haven't sent your ballot back, bring it and its outer return envelope to your polling place. A poll worker will cancel them, and then you vote a regular ballot. If you can't find them, ask for a provisional ballot. If you already mailed your ballot back, you can't vote a regular ballot at the polls.

How do I know my ballot was counted?

Use the Commonwealth's ballot tracking tool a few days after you send it back, or call your county election office directly.

See more answers: a ballot that never came, dropping off a ballot, postage, mistakes, and more →