What Pennsylvania voters need to know about the 2024 election

Pennsylvanians will soon be able to cast their ballots in the Nov. 5 election.

To help residents navigate the elections process in the commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Independent is publishing four voting guides.

In this guide, there are details on voter registration, finding polling locations, how to deal with problems that may arise on Election Day, and more.

This is one of four election guides from the Pennsylvania Independent. The other three provide information about voting by mail, the candidates, and more. Those guides are available on pennsylvaniaindependent.com/tag/2024-voter-guide/.

When is the election?

The election is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. As long as registered voters are in line by 8 p.m., they can vote.

Who is running?

Registered voters will be able to cast their votes for president, a U.S. Senate seat, U.S. House representatives, seats in the state Legislature, the state attorney general, the state auditor general, and the state treasurer.

To see the entire list of candidates who are running, visit https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/ElectionInfo/FooterLinkReport.aspx?ID=1290.

Local county election offices often provide sample ballots on their websites. Residents can also see what will be on their ballots through the League of Women Voters’ Vote 411 initiative at https://www.vote411.org/plan-your-vote. 

Registration deadline

You must register to vote at least 15 days before the election. Oct. 21 is the last day to register to vote in time for the November election.

How to check voter registration

If you’re not sure whether you’re registered to vote,  check your status at https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/voterregistrationstatus.aspx.

Voting eligibility requirements

To be eligible to vote in Pennsylvania, an individual must be a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the election, a resident of both Pennsylvania and the election district where they plan to register at least 30 days before the election, and at least 18 years old on or before Election Day.

You must register to vote using the address where you live. If you have recently moved, you can update your voter registration online at https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx.

Registering to vote

There are four ways to register: online, in person at a county election office, at various government agency offices, or by mail.

To register online, go here: https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx.

 You can register in person at your local election office. A list of county election offices can be found at https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/vote/contact-us/contact-your-election-officials.html.

You may register at any PennDOT location or other government offices. A list of government agencies where individuals can register is available at https://www.pa.gov/en/services/vote/register-to-vote.html.

If you would rather register by mail, you can download and print the voter registration form by clicking here: https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/vote/resources/documents-and-forms/Voter_Registration_Application_English.pdf.

A Spanish version is available at https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/vote/resources/documents-and-forms/Voter_Registration_Application_Spanish.pdf 

A Chinese version is available at https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/vote/resources/documents-and-forms/Voter_Registration_Application_Chinese_Traditional.pdf.

After filling out the paper application, be sure to sign your name at the bottom of the form. You can then mail the form to your local county election office.

Voter registration cards

Once you have registered to vote, your county election office will review the application and send a voter registration card in the mail. If the registration card does not arrive within 14 days, you should contact your local county election office.

Once registration is complete, how to vote

You can vote at your polling place on Election Day or by mail-in or absentee ballot. The Pennsylvania Independent will provide a separate guide to voting by mail, which will be available at pennsylvaniaindependent.com/politics/2024-election-voting-by-mail/.

Finding a polling place

If you are planning on voting in person, you can find your polling location by going to https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/PollingPlaceInfo.aspx.

What to bring on Election Day

If you’re voting at a polling place for the first time, you must show proof of identification. If you have previously voted at the polling place, you will not need identification. The accepted forms of identification are available at https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/vote/voter-support/new-voters.html. 

What to expect on Election Day

Once you arrive at your polling place, you will check in with the poll workers. You will then either fill out a paper ballot or cast your vote using a machine. Video demos of counties’ voting systems are available at https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/vote/voter-support/voting-system-demos.html#sortCriteria=%40copapwptitle%20ascending.

What happens if a voter’s name isn’t in the poll book?

If you arrive at your polling place but poll workers can’t find your name in their records, you have the right to vote using a provisional ballot. Find more information about provisional ballots at https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/vote/voter-support/provisional-ballot.html.

Beginning seven days after the election, voters can check online to see whether their provisional ballot was counted. The provisional ballot search can be found at https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/ProvisionalBallotSearch.aspx.

You can also call 1-877-VOTESPA to learn if your provisional ballot was counted.

How to report voter intimidation

Threatening, harassing or intimidating voters outside or inside the polling place, at secure ballot receptacles, at mailboxes, or at county election offices is illegal. Voters should report intimidation to their county board of elections and district attorney.

Voters should also report the intimidation to the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772).

Voting resources 

State officials and Pennsylvania nonprofits have compiled extensive information about voting in Pennsylvania. Check out the following for more information about candidates and voting in the commonwealth.

• Voting information from the state: https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/vote.html
• The state’s Voter Education Toolkit: https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/vote/resources/ready-to-vote-toolkit.html
• The League of Women Voters guide to voting in Pennsylvania: https://www.vote411.org/pennsylvania
• The nonprofit Vote.org: https://www.vote.org/state/pennsylvania/
• The nonprofit Committee of Seventy’s voting guide: https://seventy.org/2024-voter-guide