Early voting in Pennsylvania is different than other states. Here's what you need to know

Teresa Boeckel, Erie Times-News
·4 min read
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It's five weeks until the Nov. 8 general election in Pennsylvania.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

But voters do not have to wait until that day to cast a ballot. They can vote using a mail ballot.

Unlike some other states, where voters can cast their ballot at a voting center days before an election, early voting in Pennsylvania only involves a mail ballot.

A voter drops his ballot off at a drop box in York County during an election. Voters in Pennsylvania can apply for a mail ballot if they cannot or do not wish to go to the polls.
A voter drops his ballot off at a drop box in York County during an election. Voters in Pennsylvania can apply for a mail ballot if they cannot or do not wish to go to the polls.

Election staff cannot start opening and counting the mail ballots until election day.

Voters must be registered to vote to request a mail ballot. The last day to register to vote is Monday, Oct. 24 for the upcoming election.

Here's what you need to know about early voting in Pennsylvania:

The security envelope is shown at top. The ballot should be placed in it before it is placed in the signed mailer envelope.
The security envelope is shown at top. The ballot should be placed in it before it is placed in the signed mailer envelope.

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How can I vote by mail?

Registered voters can apply for a no-excuse mail-in ballot or an absentee ballot if they do not wish to head to the polls.

The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Nov. 1.

Those who opted to renew their annual mail ballot request do not have to reapply. Voters can check with their local elections office to see if they will automatically receive a mail ballot or if they need to renew their request, according to the Department of State.

The application is available online at vote.pa.gov. It can be completed online or it can be downloaded, printed, filled out and mailed in. One also can be requested from the local elections office, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State.

The application is available in English, Spanish and traditional Chinese.

Voters will need a valid Pennsylvania driver license, identification card, or Social Security number to apply for a mail ballot.

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What's the difference between a no-excuse mail ballot and an absentee ballot?

No excuse is needed to apply for a mail ballot. An absentee ballot needs a reason, such as a disability that prevents the person from going to the polls or being away from the municipality on election day.

When do ballots go out in the mail?

This will vary by county, according to Grace Griffaton with the Department of State.

Counties must begin mailing ballots out as soon as the ballot is certified and available, it says.

Adams County, for example, expected to mail the ballots by the end of September, elections director Angie Crouse said.

Meanwhile, the ballots in York County are expected to arrive in mailboxes in early to mid-October, York County President Commissioner Julie Wheeler said.

Mail ballots must go out no later than two weeks prior to election day, which in this case would be Oct. 25, 2022.

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What's the deadline to return the mail ballots?

Mail ballots must be in the hands of election staff by 8 p.m. Nov. 8.

Postmarks do not count.

In order for the ballot to count, it must be placed inside a secrecy envelope, which goes inside a pre-addressed outer envelope. Both must be sealed, according to the Department of State.

Voters also must sign and date the declaration on the outer envelope.

Voters can return ballots by placing them in the mail, dropping them off at the elections office or placing them in a local elections dropbox if their county offers one or more.

As a reminder, voters cannot drop off ballots for family members or friends. Each voter must return his or her own ballot, according to the Department of State. Voters with a disability can have someone do it for them, but it must be designated in writing.

Last year, Gov. Tom Wolf said on a radio show that his wife, First Lady Frances Wolf, returned his mail ballot for him. That is a violation of election law, and a spokeswoman for the governor said at the time that "it was an honest mistake."

Emergency ballots are available to voters who have an unexpected illness or disability or a last-minute absence from their municipality, the Department of State says.

Can I vote early in person at my elections office?

Yes, voters can apply for a mail ballot at their local elections office or another officially designated location, according to the Department of State. If approved, which can take a few minutes, voters can fill out the ballot and turn it in during the same visit.

Voters will need to follow the same steps, including signing and dating the outer envelope, at the elections office.

Some voters who come to the elections office think they are going to get to vote the same way as when they go to a poll, Wheeler said. That's not the case.

Voters should check with their local elections office about dates and times if they wish to come in person, according to the Department of State.

Some counties, such as York, prefer that voters call ahead. It allows the elections office to better plan and provide customer service, Wheeler said.

Some others may not have that preference.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Early voting in PA: Everything you need to know for Nov. 8 election