Shapiro for Governor Voting Center
Make your plan to vote in Pennsylvania’s 2022 General Election on November 8th.
Key Pennsylvania Election Dates
October 24, 2022
Last day to register before the November election
November 1, 2022
Last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot
Deadline to vote early in-person
November 8, 2022
Last day for County Boards of Elections to receive mail-in ballots and civilian absentee ballots (must be received by 8:00 PM)
November 8, 2022
GENERAL ELECTION
Polls are open from 7 AM – 8 PM
FAQs
Registering to vote
Regardless of how you plan to vote, make sure that you’re registered and all your voter information is up to date! Registration for the 2022 General Election closes October 24th.
There are three ways to register to vote in Pennsylvania: online, by mail, or in person at your county’s elections office.
ONLINE
To register online, click here at least fifteen days prior to the next election. To vote in the 2022 General Election, you must be registered by Monday, October 24th.
BY MAIL
To register by mail, print this application and mail it to your county’s Voter Registration Office, whose address is listed within the application. You can find this application in Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese.
IN PERSON
To register in person, find your county’s nearest elections office and stop in during business hours to complete a voter registration form.
Yes, you may vote in Pennsylvania’s 2022 General Election if you have lived in the state for at least thirty days before the election on November 8th.
Anyone who will turn 18 on or before November 8, 2022 may register to vote in the 2022 General Election. You must still submit your voter registration application before the Voter Registration deadline: October 24, 2022.
Voting on Election Day
Polls will be open 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM on Tuesday, November 8th. Be sure to confirm your voter registration and polling location by October 24th as you make your plan to vote on Election Day!
Polls are open 7:00 AM − 8:00 PM on Election Day.
By PA law, anyone who is in line by 8:00 PM must be allowed to vote. If you are in line at 8:00 PM, stay in line until your ballot has been cast!
In Pennsylvania, you are NOT required to show identification UNLESS it’s your first time voting at your current polling place.
All voters appearing at a polling place for the first time must show a valid form of identification. That means if you previously voted in PA, but have since moved to a new precinct, you are still required to show ID at your new polling location.
Approved forms of photo identification include:
- Pennsylvania driver’s license or PennDOT ID card
- ID issued by any Commonwealth agency
- ID issued by the U.S. Government
- U.S. passport
- U.S. Armed Forces ID
- Student ID
- Employee ID
If you do not have a photo ID, you can use a non-photo identification that includes your name and address.
- Confirmation issued by the County Voter Registration Office
- Non-photo ID issued by the Commonwealth
- Non-photo ID issued by the U.S. Government
- Firearm permit
- Current utility bill
- Current bank statement
- Current paycheck
- Government check
If you believe someone at your polling place has improperly or erroneously requested ID, please call PA Dems’ Voter Assistance Hotline at 833-728-6837.
If you’re planning to vote in person on Election Day, find your polling place at vote.pa.gov/status.
When you do so, confirm that you’re still registered at your current address and that all other pertinent information is up to date.
If you can’t make it to the polls on November 8, 2022, vote with a mail-in ballot OR early in-person. See the FAQ sections for more information on how to vote using these methods.
In emergency situations—such as an unexpected illness or injury — you can request an Emergency Absentee Ballot beginning 5:00 PM on November 1st until 8:00 PM on Election Day, November 8th.
Yes! Even if you requested a mail-in ballot, you can vote normally on Election Day IF:
You surrender your entire mail ballot package (including the ballot and larger return envelope) at your polling place
AND you sign a statement that you did not vote by mail.
If you’re unable to do one or both of these things, you may still vote at your polling place on Election Day using a Provisional Ballot.
Americans living overseas and in the military who want to vote in their home state must request their ballot every election year even if they are already registered. Democrats Abroad provides assistance for service members, their families, and overseas citizens who want to vote.
If you believe your voting rights have been infringed — or see someone else’s rights in question — please stay at that polling location and immediately call the PA Dems’ Voter Assistance Hotline at 833-728-6837.
Voting Early In-Person
Through November 1st at 5:00 PM (and no earlier than September 19th), you can vote early by going to your county elections office in person, requesting a ballot, completing it, and handing it back on the spot!
Every Pennsylvania voter is allowed to vote early in-person! You may request, complete, and return your mail ballot in-person at your county elections office or at satellite locations if provided by your county.
Before you go, call your county elections office to make sure official, finalized ballots are available. You should also confirm the hours of operation and ask whether any satellite voting offices are open.
You can vote early in-person until November 1, 2022 at 5:00 PM.
Yes, if you already requested a mail-in ballot, you can still vote early in-person!
Instead of waiting for your ballot to be mailed to you, go to your county elections office (or a satellite office, if applicable) to request a mail-in ballot in person and vote early on the spot.
Before you go, see if your county has already mailed it out to you by checking the status of your mail ballot request.
To vote early in-person, you must go to your county elections office or a satellite voting office established by your county.
Voting By Mail
Voting by mail is an easy three-step process! Request your ballot online or with a paper application, complete the ballot as instructed, and return the completed ballot by mail or dropoff to the your county elections office or approved satellite location or drop box, if available. by 8:00 PM on Election Day. You may not return your mail-in ballot to your polling place.
DON’T FORGET TO PUT YOUR BALLOT IN THE SMALLER SECRECY ENVELOPE OR YOUR VOTE WILL NOT COUNT. IF RETURNING YOUR BALLOT BY MAIL, SEND IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Every Pennsylvania voter is allowed to cast a mail-in ballot! You do not need to provide a reason or excuse to obtain your mail-in ballot, but you must request your ballot in advance.
To vote by mail in Pennsylvania, you must first request your mail-in ballot. There are three ways to get your ballot available: online, by mail, or in person.
ONLINE
Click here to start the process of voting by mail right now from your computer!
BY MAIL
You may sign up to vote by mail by completing and mailing a paper application to your county elections office. Download the form in English, or you may click here to access the form in Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.
IN PERSON
You may also request your ballot in person at your county’s elections office or any satellite offices in your county. If you choose to do so, you may also be able to complete and submit your ballot on the spot! See above for more information on voting early in-person.
REMEMBER: ACT QUICKLY AND EXPECT POSTAL DELAYS! REQUEST YOUR BALLOT IMMEDIATELY TO ENSURE AMPLE TIME TO RETURN IT.
After you request your ballot, your county elections office will mail it to you — likely sometime 15-30 days before the election. After you have received your ballot, you (and only you) must:
1) Carefully mark your ballot according to the accompanying instructions. Watch a step-by-step guide here.
2) Place your marked ballot in the secrecy envelope. Without using the smaller secrecy envelope, your ballot will not count!
3) Place the secrecy envelope and ballot inside the large return envelope.
4) Fill out the voter declaration on the larger return envelope. Don’t forget to sign and date the voter declaration!
5) Return your ballot by mailing it in or dropping it off at your county elections office, designated satellite office, or ballot dropbox. You cannot return your ballot to your polling location. You may only return your own ballot. Your ballot must be received before 8:00 PM on Election Day.
IF RETURNING YOUR BALLOT BY MAIL, SEND IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. BALLOTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 8:00 PM ON ELECTION DAY TO BE COUNTED, AND POSTMARK DATES ARE NOT CONSIDERED.
In Pennsylvania, you may only return your own mail-in ballot. If you are unable to return your mail-in ballot yourself, you can fill out this form here to have authorized a designated agent to return it for you. Please read the instructions carefully.
Yes! Click here to see if your request to vote by mail has been processed by your county elections office, if your ballot is on its way to you, and if your ballot has been received by your county elections office.
Voting as a college student
Whether you’re from Pennsylvania and going to school here, from Pennsylvania and going to school out of state, or from out of state and going to school in Pennsylvania, you can vote in this election! Find the scenario below that applies to you and find out what to do to make your voice heard.
Every Pennsylvania voter can vote by mail using a no-excuse mail-in ballot. Whether you’re a student living in Pennsylvania or you’re registered in Pennsylvania but living somewhere else for school, voting by mail using a mail-in ballot is the easiest and most secure way to make your voice heard.
First, make sure you’re registered to vote. You can choose to register at your home address or your school address — register here or check your registration status here.
Once you’re registered, request a no-excuse mail-in ballot online or find your local polling place to vote in person on Election Day, Tuesday, November 8.
If you’re voting by mail, make sure you enter the address where you will physically be when the ballots are mailed in the fall as your mailing address on the request form — which might be different from the permanent address where you are registered.
First, get registered to vote in Pennsylvania! To register online, click here. Make sure to use your dorm or apartment or house address to register.
Once you’re registered, request a no-excuse mail-in ballot online or find your local polling place to vote in person on Election Day, Tuesday, November 8.
First, register to vote using your Pennsylvania home address or check your registration status.
Once you’re registered, request a no-excuse mail-in ballot online and make sure to enter the mailing address where you will physically be when ballots are mailed in September or October — which will be different from the Pennsylvania address where you are registered.
The County Board of Elections must receive your ballot by 8 PM on Election Day, November 8, so please mail your ballot back as soon as possible after you receive it.