Do I Have To Vote For My Registered Party In Pa For A General Election

En español | Pennsylvania's November. eight full general ballot will decide races for governor, U.S. House and Senate and several state offices. The state's chief was May 17.

Essential info:

Absentee and mail voting: All registered voters tin request a no-excuse mail-in ballot and vote from home for Nov'southward general election. Absentee ballots are also available for people who are out of town on Election Day or who have an illness or disability that prevents them from going to the polls.

Early in-person voting: You tin can fill up out a mail-in or absentee ballot early on and in person at your canton lath of elections office before Election Day.

Voting in person on Election Solar day: The general ballot is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polls will exist open up from 7 a.thousand. to viii p.g.

Election Day In Reading Pennsylvania — A woman walks into a polling identify in Reading, PA.

What'southward new this year?

Changes could be coming for how you vote in the 2022 elections, with state lawmakers pushing for tighter registration deadlines, new voter ID requirements and new restrictions on ballot drop boxes. The country is also adopting a new congressional map after losing a seat in the U.Southward. House of Representatives following the 2020 Census, which could touch which local candidates appear on your ballot.

The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court'due south recent ruling on an election nib passed in 2019 could limit no-excuse mail-in ballot admission in hereafter elections. The decision has been appealed. Check dorsum for updates.

What races are on the election and who's running?

Governor: Doug Mastriano (R), Josh Shapiro (D)
Lieutenant Governor: Austin Davis (D), Carrie DelRosso (R)
U.South. Senate: John Fetterman (D), Republican primary still too shut to call
U.S. Business firm: all 17 seats. Pennsylvania lost a seat every bit a result of the 2020 Census.
State Senate: 25 of 50 seats
State House: all 203 seats

How do I annals to vote?

Online: Use the state's voter registration portal to annals, check your registration status or alter your political party affiliation. The borderline to register for the general election is Oct. 24.

By mail: Impress out a voter registration grade , complete information technology and mail it to your county's voter registration role .

In person: Go to your county's voter registration office or any Surface area Agencies on Aging location, marriage license bureau, armed forces recruitment center or other in-person location listed on the state department's website . Yous tin can also register at a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation photograph or driver's license center when obtaining or updating a driver's license.

How can I get a mail-in or absentee ballot? Are there important deadlines?

Whatever registered voter can request a no-alibi mail-in ballot and vote safely from abode in November'due south general ballot. You'll need to submit a new request each twelvemonth, only you tin can register with the land's annual post-in voter list to receive a ballot application by post each Feb.

Absentee ballots, which are also submitted by mail, are reserved for people who have a disability or illness that prevents them from going to the polls — or for people who are out of boondocks on the day of the election.

You tin can use for a mail-in or absentee ballot online, past mail or in person:

Online: Use the state's election request portal . You'll demand a land driver's license or a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation ID number to utilise. If you lot don't accept either, you'll be asked for the last four digits of your Social Security number and to upload a moving-picture show of your signature. If yous don't have a valid ID or a Social Security number, you'll need to utilize by mail or in person.

By mail: Download and consummate either a mail-in or absentee application and ship it to your county board of elections office . Or request an awarding be mailed to you . Election officials must receive applications by Nov. ane at 5 p.m.

In person: Visit your county elections function .

Return completed ballots by mail, in person or via another person, or "agent," if you lot're disabled. Election officials must receive ballots past November. 8 at 8 p.m.

By mail service: Seal your completed ballot in the inner secrecy envelope, then seal that envelope in the pre-addressed return envelope. Send it to your county board of elections office .

In person: Drop off your completed ballot at your county board of elections office or at a secure drop box if your county uses them. Mail-in and absentee ballots cannot be returned to your polling place on Ballot Day.

Through an amanuensis: Most voters can't enlist someone else to return their ballot. Only if you have a disability that prevents you lot from applying for, receiving or returning a post-in or absentee ballot yourself, you can designate an agent to return your ballot for you.

Use the country's voter portal to rails the status of your post-in or absentee election.

In the event of an emergency, such as an unexpected illness or unplanned trip out of town, you may be able to asking an emergency absentee election .

Tin can I vote in person before Election Day?

Yes. One time your county finalizes and begins distributing mail-in and absentee ballots, yous can request and complete 1 in person at your county lath of elections role .

When is Election Day? When are polls open?

The general election takes identify on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. Polls are open from 7 a.g. to 8 p.m. Use the country's voter information portal to detect a polling place about yous.

Do I need identification to vote?

No — unless it is your outset time voting, in which example you'll need to show an approved form of ID like a state-issued driver'south license or a U.Due south. passport.

Editor's note: This guide was updated on May 27 with more information about which candidates will exist on November's ballot. The guide was first published on July 30, 2020.

Also of Interest

Follow AARP's political coverage at aarp.org/elections
Keep up with local events and AARP advocacy efforts at aarp.org/pa