Want to register to vote in Pa. this fall? The clock is ticking.
Time is running out for Pennsylvanians who want to vote this fall and haven't yet registered.
The law requires people to register at least 15 days before an election in order to participate in that election, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State. This year's election is Nov. 7, which sets the deadline at Oct. 23.
At the state level, voters this year are tasked with selecting a new justice for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and judges for both Commonwealth and Superior courts.
Who is eligible to vote?
To register to vote this fall, individuals must be at least 18 years old by the date of the election.
They must also be a resident of Pennsylvania and the election district for at least 30 days before the polls open. U.S. citizenship for at least a month before this day is an additional requirement.
How to register to vote in Pa.
In order to register, Pennsylvanians first have to fill out an application form.
These forms are reviewed by employees at the voter's county of residence. Newly registered voters are then to receive a card showing name, address, party affiliation and address.
Applications can be submitted online, through the mail, at county voter registration offices or at the other government agencies, such as the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
First-time voters are required to provide proof of identification — driver's license, U.S. passport, firearm permit, et cetera — when voting at their polling place for the first time.
Do you need an excuse to vote by mail in Pa.?
No-excuse mail-in voting was adopted in Pennsylvania through the bipartisan Act 77 of 2019.
Republican lawmakers, citing concerns with court interpretations of the law, have since attempted to repeal aspects of it through legislation and legal challenges on constitutional grounds. House Bill 1300 was vetoed by former Gov. Tom Wolf in 2021, and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania upheld Act 77 last year.
How to make sure Pa. mail-in ballot is counted
Applications for mail-in ballots must be received by county election boards no later than 5 p.m. Oct. 31.
After making selections, voters are to seal the form in the inner secrecy envelope marked "official election ballot." The ballot will not be counted unless it's sealed in this envelope, according to the Department of State. People are also asked not to make any markings on the inner secrecy envelope.
A voter's declaration on the outer return envelope must also be signed and dated.
When do mail-in ballots need to be returned in Pa.?
To ensure that ballot is counted, it must be received by county officials no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots postmarked by that time are deemed ineligible.
Bruce Siwy is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network's Pennsylvania state capital bureau. He can be reached at bsiwy@gannett.com or on Twitter at @BruceSiwy.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: What is the deadline to register to vote in PA? Oct. 23, 2023
