Voting absentee in Pennsylvania just became easier in time for the Nov. 5 municipal election.
Voters can now apply for absentee ballots online. Since the online application's launch in mid-September, more than 13,000 Pennsylvanians have requested absentee ballots via this new system, which is faster, more convenient, and more accessible.
The process is simple: visit
vote.pa.gov/ApplyAbsentee and fill in your information. Your application will be automatically sent to your county Board of Elections, and you will receive an absentee ballot in the mail to fill out and return.
Though requesting an absentee ballot online is much faster,
don't wait to apply.
The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is one week before the election, or 5 p.m. Tuesday, October 29.
The deadline for county election offices to receive voted absentee ballots is 5 p.m. November 1. A timely postmark is not sufficient. By requesting absentee ballots and returning them well before the deadlines, voters can ensure that their votes will be fully counted and their voices heard.
In Pennsylvania, absentee ballots may be cast by voters with illnesses or disabilities, voters who will be away from their home municipality on business on Election Day, and Pennsylvania college students attending out-of-state colleges or universities, among others. More information is available on
vote.pa.gov.
Planning is already underway for more system improvements in time for the 2020 election. Right now, online absentee ballot applications require a PennDOT driver license or ID number in order to be processed electronically. The Department of State is planning an update by next year that will allow applicants who do not have a PennDOT number to use the system. In addition, online absentee ballot applications are currently accessible to all domestic Pennsylvania voters. They will be available to military and overseas voters by 2020.
Visit
vote.pa.gov today to request an absentee ballot and find out more about the absentee voting process in Pennsylvania.