Election administration in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania 2024 elections

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U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Attorney General • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • Special state legislative • Local ballot measures • How to run for office |

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Election Information
Voter registration
Early voting
Absentee/mail-in voting
All-mail voting
Voter ID laws
State poll opening and closing times

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Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
The Ballot Bulletin

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Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its election administration.

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Election administration encompasses a state's voting policies, procedures, and enforcement. These include voter identification requirements, early and absentee/mail-in voting provisions, voter list maintenance methods, and more. Each state's voting policies dictate who can vote and under what conditions.

THE BASICS

* Pennsylvania permits online voter registration.

* Pennsylvania uses automatic voter registration

* Pennsylvania permits no-excuse early voting.

* In Pennsylvania, polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

* Pennsylvania does not require identification to vote except for first-time voters.

* Pennsylvania holds closed primary elections.

* Pennsylvania has tools for verifying voter registration and checking the status of provisional ballots.

Below, you will find details on the following election administration topics in Pennsylvania:

* Poll times
* Voter registration
* Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy[1]
* Voter identification requirements
* Provisional ballot rules
* Primary election type
* Time off work for voting
* Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

* Voter list maintenance
* Post-election auditing
* Election policy ballot measures
* Election policy legislation
* Ballot access
* Redistricting
* Election administration agencies

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## Contents

* 1 Poll times
* 2 Voter registration
* 2.1 Automatic registration
* 2.2 Online registration
* 2.3 Same-day registration
* 2.4 Residency requirements
* 2.5 Verification of citizenship
* 2.6 Verifying your registration
* 3 Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy
* 3.1 Early voting
* 3.2 Absentee/mail-in voting
* 3.2.1 Returning absentee/mail-in ballots
* 3.2.2 Signature requirements and cure provisions
* 4 Voter identification requirements
* 5 Provisional ballot rules
* 5.1 Was your provisional ballot counted?
* 6 Local election officials
* 7 Primary election type
* 8 Time off work for voting
* 9 Voting rules for people convicted of a felony
* 10 Voter list maintenance
* 10.1 When names can be removed from the voter list
* 10.2 Inactive voter list rules
* 10.3 The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)
* 11 Post-election auditing
* 12 Noteworthy events
* 12.1 Court rules on undated and wrong dated mail ballots (2022-2024)
* 12.2 Universal mail voting declared unconstitutional (2022)
* 12.3 Absentee, registration, and voting rule changes (2019)
* 12.4 Secretary of State requires voting machines with paper record (2018)
* 13 Election policy ballot measures
* 14 Recent legislation related to election administration in Pennsylvania
* 14.1 Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
* 14.2 The Ballot Bulletin
* 15 Ballot access
* 16 Redistricting
* 16.1 State process
* 17 Election administration agencies
* 17.1 Election agencies
* 18 Ballotpedia's election coverage
* 19 See also
* 19.1 Elections in Pennsylvania
* 20 External links
* 21 Footnotes

## Poll times[edit]

See also: State poll opening and closing times

In Pennsylvania, all polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[2]

## Voter registration[edit]

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Pennsylvania, an applicant must be a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the next election, a resident of the district in which he or she is registering for at least 30 days before the next election, and at least 18 years old by the day of the next election.[3] The deadline for registering to vote is 15 days before the election.[3] Registration can be done online, in person, or by mail. Prospective voters can register in person at the county voter registration office or at a number of state agencies, including Pennsylvania Department of Transportation centers. The Pennsylvania voter registration application is available online and can be mailed to the county voter registration office.[4] On September 19, 2023, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) announced that the state had implemented automatic voter registration.[5]

### Automatic registration[edit]

Pennsylvania practices automatic voter registration.[6]

### Online registration[edit]

See also: Online voter registration

Pennsylvania implemented an online voter registration system in 2015.[7] Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

### Same-day registration[edit]

Pennsylvania does not allow same-day voter registration.

### Residency requirements[edit]

Prospective voters must be residents of the district in which they are registering for at least 30 days before the next election.

### Verification of citizenship[edit]

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Pennsylvania does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration.

### Verifying your registration[edit]

The Pennsylvania Department of State allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

## Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy[edit]

### Early voting[edit]

See also: Early voting

Pennsylvania voters can cast mail ballots in person. According to the Pennsylvania Department of State's Office of Communications and Press, "Once a county’s ballots are finalized and printed, a registered voter can apply for their mail ballot in person at their county election office, complete it, then submit it all in one visit. Voters should check their county's website to see when they have final ballots available and what hours their election office is open."[8] For more information, visit this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.

### Absentee/mail-in voting[edit]

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

Beginning with the April 28, 2020, primary election, all Pennsylvania voters are eligible to cast absentee ballots. The change came about as a result of SB421, an omnibus election law bill which Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf (D) signed into law on October 31, 2019.[9][10]

#### Returning absentee/mail-in ballots[edit]

See also: Mail ballot collection and return laws by state

Voters must return their absentee/mail-in ballots by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots must be received by this deadline. Ballots may be returned by mail or in person. Rather than returning a ballot in person, a voter may issue written authorization for another person, including, if no other person is available, a deputy sheriff, to return the ballot on their behalf.[11]

#### Signature requirements and cure provisions[edit]

Absentee/mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania include a set of return envelopes printed with a declaration that must be signed by the voter in order for the ballot to be counted. Pennsylvania law does not include a cure provision, or a procedure allowing voters to correct an issue with the signature on their absentee/mail-in ballot.[11][12]

## Voter identification requirements[edit]

See also: Voter ID in Pennsylvania
See also: Voter identification laws by state

Pennsylvania does not generally require voters to present identification while voting. However, a voter who is voting at a polling place for the first time must present identification.[13]

Voters can present the following forms of identification. This list was current as of March 2023. Click here to ensure you have current information.

“  | Approved forms of photo identification include:

* Pennsylvania driver’s license or PennDOT ID card
* ID issued by any Commonwealth agency
* ID issued by the U.S. Government
* U.S. passport
* U.S. Armed Forces ID
* Student ID
* Employee ID

If you do not have a photo ID, you can use a non-photo identification that includes your name and address.

* Confirmation issued by the County Voter Registration Office
* Non-photo ID issued by the Commonwealth
* Non-photo ID issued by the U.S. Government
* Firearm permit
* Current utility bill
* Current bank statement
* Current paycheck
* Government check[14]

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As of April 2024, 35 states required voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day. Of these states, 24 required voters to present identification containing a photograph, and 11 accepted other forms of identification. The remaining 16 states did not require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day.

Valid forms of identification differ by state. In certain states that require voters to provide identification, there may be exceptions that allow some voters to cast a ballot without providing an ID. To see more about these exceptions, see details by state. Commonly accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, state-issued identification cards, and military identification cards.

## Provisional ballot rules[edit]

Voters in Pennsylvania are given provisional ballots, or ballots requiring additional steps or information before they can be counted, under the following circumstances:[15]

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* Your name was not in the poll book or supplemental poll book.
* For example, you reported to the wrong precinct; or
* You did not report a recent change in residence to the county election office.
* You are required to show ID, but cannot show ID.
* Your eligibility was challenged by an election official.
* You were issued but did not successfully vote an absentee or mail‐in ballot and you do not surrender your ballot at the polling place to be spoiled.
* You returned a completed absentee or mail‐in ballot that was rejected by the county board of elections and you believe you are eligible to vote.
* There is a special court order with respect to your registration status.
* There is a special court order related to extending the hours of voting.
* You believe that you are registered in a political party, but your voter record indicates otherwise (for primary elections only).[14]

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Pennsylvania's provisional ballot procedures state: "If the board of elections determines that the elector has knowingly voted in an improper election district, the board of elections may declare the ballot to be invalid. However, absent a determination of willfulness by the elector, the board should dispose of the provisional ballot as a ballot cast in the proper county but at an improper election district and count the ballot as to those offices for which, and questions on which, the elector was qualified to vote."[16]

#### Was your provisional ballot counted?[edit]

Visit the Pennsylvania Department of State's Provisional Ballot Search tool to check the status of your provisional ballot. You can also call 1-877-VOTESPA to check the status of your ballot.

## Local election officials[edit]

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Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.|

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## Primary election type[edit]

See also: Primary elections in Pennsylvania

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Pennsylvania utilizes a closed primary process. Voters are required to register with a political party to vote in the primary election.[17][18][19]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

## Time off work for voting[edit]

Ballotpedia did not find a law specifying whether voters must be given time off from work to vote in this state. Nolo.com notes that states without such state laws may have administrative regulations or local ordinances pertaining to time off for voting and suggests calling your local board of elections or state labor department for more information.[20]

If you know of a relevant policy in this state, please email us. Find contact information for your county elections board here.

As of 2020, 28 states had laws requiring employers to provide time off for voting under certain conditions.

## Voting rules for people convicted of a felony[edit]

See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony

In Pennsylvania, people convicted of a felony automatically regain their voting rights upon completion of their incarceration, with the exception of violations of the Pennsylvania Election Code, which bar people from voting for four years after conviction for the offense.

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[21]

## Voter list maintenance[edit]

All states have rules under which they maintain voter rolls—or, check and remove certain names from their lists of registered voters. Most states are subject to the parameters set by The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).[22] The NVRA requires states to make efforts to remove deceased individuals and individuals who have become ineligible due to a change of address. It prohibits removing registrants from voter lists within 90 days of a federal election due to change of address unless a registrant has requested to be removed, or from removing people from voter lists solely because they have not voted. The NVRA says that states may remove names from their registration lists under certain other circumstances and that their methods for removing names must be uniform and nondiscriminatory.[23]

#### When names can be removed from the voter list[edit]

Pennsylvania law authorizes election officials to remove the names of voters from the registered voting list if an individual:

* requests in writing to be removed from the list
* dies
* confirms in writing that they moved outside of their voting jurisdiction
* remains on the inactive voter list through two consecutive general elections.

#### Inactive voter list rules[edit]

If election officials, using National Change of Address data and other address verification resources, determine that a voter may have moved outside of their voting jurisdiction, they are to send the voter a forwardable confirmation notice. If the voter does not respond within 30 days, they are to be listed as inactive. In addition, elections officials are required to contact all registered active voters who have not voted in the previous five years with a notice. If the voter fails to respond, they are to be listed as inactive. If a voter remains in inactive status by not responding to a confirmation notice, voting, or updating their registration status, their registration is to be canceled.

#### The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)[edit]

See also: Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)

According to its website, ERIC is a nonprofit corporation that is governed by a board of member-states. These member states submit voter registration and motor vehicle registration information to ERIC. ERIC uses this information, as well as Social Security death records and other sources, to provide member states with reports showing voters who have moved within their state, moved out of their state, died, have duplicate registrations in their state, or are potentially eligible to vote but are not yet registered. ERIC's website describes its funding as follows: "Members fund ERIC. New members pay a one-time membership fee of $25,000, which is reserved for technology upgrades and other unanticipated expenses. Members also pay annual dues. Annual dues cover operating costs and are based, in part, on the citizen voting age population in each state."[24]

By 2022, 33 states and the District of Columbia had joined ERIC. As of May 2024, 24 states and the District of Columbia were members in the ERIC program.[25]

As of August 2023, Pennsylvania was participating in the ERIC program.

## Post-election auditing[edit]

Pennsylvania state law requires post-election audits. Officials from the county board of elections recount a random sample "of the lesser of 2% of votes cast in each county, or 2,000 ballots." The audit is conducted as part of the canvass.

Post-election audits check that election results tallied by a state's voting system match results from paper records, such as paper ballots filled out by voters or the paper records produced by electronic voting machines. Post-election audits are classified into two categories: audits of election results—which include traditional post-election audits as well as risk-limiting audits—and procedural audits.[26][27]

Typically, traditional post-election audits are done by recounting a portion of ballots, either electronically or by hand, and comparing the results to those produced by the state's voting system. In contrast, risk-limiting audits use statistical methods to compare a random sample of votes cast to election results instead of reviewing every ballot. The scope of procedural audits varies by state, but they typically include a systematic review of voting equipment, performance of the voting system, vote totals, duties of election officials and workers, ballot chain of custody, and more.

As of July 2024, 41 states and the District of Columbia required some form of post-election audit. Of these, 36 states and the District of Columbia required traditional post-election audits, three states required risk-limiting post-election audits, and two states required procedural post-election audits.[19]

## Noteworthy events[edit]

### Court rules on undated and wrong dated mail ballots (2022-2024)[edit]

On February 8, 2023, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a ruling that said that undated or mis-dated absentee/mail-in ballots should not be counted under state law. Justice David N. Wecht wrote the majority opinion, which said the dating requirement spelled out in state law is clear: For absentee or mail-in ballots to count, they must be dated with the date voters completed them. The opinion said that undated and wrong dated absentee and mail-in ballots should be rejected in future elections, and it confirmed that individual county boards of elections “retain authority to evaluate the ballots that they receive in future elections.”[28]

On October 17, 2022, the Republican National Committee and the Pennsylvania Republican Party filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent counties from counting undated and wrong dated absentee and mail-in ballots.[29]

On November 5, 2022, the court issued a preliminary order, saying that mail-in ballots were to be rejected for the November 8 midterm election if the handwritten date was before September 19 or after November 8, and absentee ballots were to be rejected if the date was before August 30 or after November 8.[30]

Note: In May 2024, a group of non-profit advocacy organizations challenged the underlying law that requires voters to date their absentee/mail-in ballots.[31] On August 30, 2024, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court blocked enforcement of the requirement, ruling that it violates the state's Free and Equal Elections Cause.[32] The opinion said: "The refusal to count undated or incorrectly dated but timely mail ballots submitted by otherwise eligible voters because of meaningless and inconsequential paperwork errors violates the fundamental right to vote recognized in the free and equal elections clause."[33] The Republican National Committee and Pennsylvania Republican Party appealed the ruling to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on September 3.

### Universal mail voting declared unconstitutional (2022)[edit]

On January 28, 2022, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court struck down Act 77, which made absentee/mail-in voting available to all eligible electors, as a violation of the Pennsylvania Constitution. The court voted 3-2 on the matter, with Judges Mary Hannah Leavitt, Patricia McCullough, and Christine Fizzano Cannon (all Republicans) forming the majority and Judges Michael Wojcik and Ellen H. Ceisler (both Democrats) dissenting.[34]

On March 3, 2022, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court stayed the Commonwealth Court's order, allowing the law to stand pending resolution of the appeal. The court heard oral argument on March 8, 2022.[35]

On August 2, 2022, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court reversed the ruling of the Commonwealth Court. The court voted 5-2 on the matter, with Chief Justice Max Baer and Justices Debra Todd, Kevin M. Dougherty, David N. Wecht, and Christine Donohue (all Democrats) forming the majority. Justices Sallie Mundy and Kevin Brobson (both Republicans) dissented. Writing for the majority, Donahue said:[36]

“  | The Commonwealth Court’s declaration that the universal mail-in voting provisions of Act 77 were unconstitutional was premised on its conclusion that it was bound by the definition of 'offer to vote' in Article VII, Section 1 of our Constitution as construed in the Chase and Lancaster City decisions. ... [T]he pronouncements in those cases do not control our interpretation of the Constitution in effect when Act 77 became law. Based upon our analysis of Article VII, Section 1 of our Constitution, we conclude that the phrase 'offer to vote' does not establish in-person voting as an elector qualification or otherwise mandate in-person voting. We reiterate that our General Assembly is endowed with great legislative power, subject only to express restrictions in the Constitution. We find no restriction in our Constitution on the General Assembly’s ability to create universal mail-in voting.[14] | ”

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In her dissent, Mundy wrote the following: "When Article VII is viewed as a whole, ... the naming of certain classes of electors who are given the right to vote absentee necessarily implies that those are the only electors who may do so. It seems a stretch to conclude that the framers of the 1967 Constitution, in guaranteeing absentee voting to the identified classes, intended thereby to cede control over this delicate balance to the Legislature."[37]

### Absentee, registration, and voting rule changes (2019)[edit]

On October 31, 2019, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf (D) signed SB421, an omnibus election law bill, into law. The law provided for the following changes to the state's electoral system:[9]

* All voters became eligible to cast absentee/mail-in ballots, effective with the April 28, 2020, primary election.
* The voter registration deadline was extended from the 30th day preceding an election to the 15th day preceding an election.
* Straight-ticket voting, wherein a voter can select one party's entire slate of candidates for every office by making a single mark on the ballot, was eliminated.

Upon signing the bill, Wolf said, "For too long Pennsylvania has made it too hard for the citizens to actually fully participate in our democracy. These changes will make it easier for people to vote, participate in our democracy, actually to take care of the most fundamental responsibility of citizenship: voting."[9]

The bill cleared the state House on Oct. 29 by a vote of 138-61. In the House, 105 Republicans and 33 Democrats voted in favor of the bill. The Senate followed suit the same day, approving the bill by a vote of 35-14, with 27 Republicans and eight Democrats voting in favor. State Rep. Malcom Kenyatta (D), who voted against the bill, took issue with the provision eliminating straight-ticket voting: "We’re making this process more difficult. We’re ignoring the cultural concerns of people who have voted in that way for years and years and years. And we’re doing it all at a time when we are changing the entire voting system, which is going to lead to lines lead to delays – and, actually, maybe lead to people not exercising their right to vote."[38]

### Secretary of State requires voting machines with paper record (2018)[edit]

On February 9, 2018, Acting Secretary of State Robert Torres issued a directive to county election officials stipulating that all voting equipment purchased thereafter provide for a paper record of all votes cast. The directive did not mandate that counties obtain new equipment, but it did establish specifications for new equipment that counties could purchase should they opt to replace their existing voting systems. In a press release, Torres said, "This directive will ensure that the next generation of the commonwealth’s voting systems conforms to enhanced standards of resiliency, auditability and security. The current voting equipment in counties works and can be audited. But new voting machines with paper ballots or voter-verifiable paper backup will improve auditability and augment security."[39][40]

On April 12, 2018, Torres issued another directive to county election administrators instructing them to ensure that all voting machines, regardless of purchase date, provide for a paper record of all votes cast. Torres set a deadline of the end of 2019 for counties to comply with the directive. Torres said, "We want to bring about the system upgrades so Pennsylvania voters are voting on the most secure and auditable equipment as promptly and feasibly as possible." According to Verified Voting, as of November 2016, Pennsylvania was one of seven states in which both paper ballot and direct recording electronic (DRE) systems without paper trails were used. The other six states were Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. For more information about the voting equipment used in the United States, see this article.[39][40][41][42][43]

## Election policy ballot measures[edit]

See also: Elections and campaigns on the ballot and List of Pennsylvania ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked the following ballot measures relating to election and campaign policy in Pennsylvania.

1. Pennsylvania Question 3, In-State Address Change and Voting Location Amendment (1959)
2. Pennsylvania Question 1, State Senate Elections Following Redistricting Amendment (May 2001)
3. Pennsylvania Question 6, Voter Residency Requirements and Absentee Voting Amendment (May 1967)
4. Pennsylvania Question 5, Joint Election of Governor and Lieutenant Governor Amendment (May 1967)
5. Pennsylvania Appointed Judges and Retention Elections Amendment (May 1969)
6. Pennsylvania Question 1, Election of the Attorney General Amendment (May 1978)
7. Pennsylvania Question 2, State Judicial Vacancies Amendment (May 1978)

## Recent legislation related to election administration in Pennsylvania[edit]

The table below lists bills related to election administration that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in Pennsylvania. The following information is included for each bill:

* State
* Bill number
* Official name or caption
* Most recent action date
* Legislative status
* Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized alphabetically, first by state and then by bill number. The table displays up to 100 results by default. To view additional results, use the arrows in the upper-right corner of the table. For more information about a particular bill, click the bill number. This will open a separate page with additional information.

### Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker[edit]

State election laws are changing. Keeping track of the latest developments in all 50 states can seem like an impossible job.

Here's the solution: Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker.

Ballotpedia's Election Administration Tracker sets the industry standard for ease of use, flexibility, and raw power. But that's just the beginning of what it can do:

* Ballotpedia's election experts provide daily updates on bills and other relevant political developments
* We translate complex bill text into easy-to-understand summaries written in everyday language
* And because it's from Ballotpedia, our Tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan

### The Ballot Bulletin[edit]

The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.

Click here to view recent issues and subscribe.

## Ballot access[edit]

See also: Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Pennsylvania

A cardboard ballot box at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History

In order to get on the ballot in Pennsylvania, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Pennsylvania. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, see "Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Pennsylvania." Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

## Redistricting[edit]

See also: Redistricting in Pennsylvania

"Gerrymandering"

Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Pennsylvania's 17 United States representatives and 253 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.[44][45][46][47]

Pennsylvania was apportioned 17 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, 1 fewer than it received after the 2010 census. Click here for more information about redistricting in Pennsylvania after the 2020 census.

HIGHLIGHTS

* Following the 2020 United States Census, Pennsylvania was apportioned 17 congressional seats, one less than the number it had after the 2010 census.

* Pennsylvania 's House of Representatives is made up of 203 districts; Pennsylvania's State Senate is made up of 50 districts.

* In Pennsylvania, congressional district boundaries are set by the state legislature. State legislative district lines are drawn by a politician commission.

* On January 22, 2018, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down the state's congressional district map enacted after the 2010 census, finding that the map constituted an illegal partisan gerrymander. On February 19, 2018, the court adopted a remedial map for use in the 2018 election cycle. Pennsylvania Republicans filed suit in federal district court to prevent implementation of the new map. The district court dismissed the suit on March 19, 2018. State Republicans also petitioned the Supreme Court of the United States to stay the state supreme court's order pending appeal. The court rejected this request on March 19, 2018. For more information on this case, click here.

### State process[edit]

See also: State-by-state redistricting procedures

In Pennsylvania, the statutory authority to draw congressional district boundaries is vested with the Pennsylvania General Assembly. These lines are subject to gubernatorial veto.[48]

State legislative district lines are drawn by a politician commission. Established in 1968, the commission comprises five members:[48]

1. The majority leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate appoints one member.
2. The minority leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate appoints one member.
3. The majority leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives appoints one member.
4. The minority leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives appoints one member.
5. The first four commissioners appoint a fifth member to serve as the commission's chair. If the commission is unable to reach an agreement, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court must appoint a commission chair.[48]

The Pennsylvania Constitution requires that state legislative districts be contiguous and compact. Further, state legislative districts should "respect county, city, incorporated town, borough, township and ward boundaries." There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.[48]

## Election administration agencies[edit]

### Election agencies[edit]

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in Pennsylvania can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Pennsylvania County Election Officials

Click here for a list

Pennsylvania Secretary of State; Bureau of Elections

North Office Building, Room 210

401 North Street

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120-0060

Toll free: 1-877-868-3772

Email: ra-votereg@pa.gov
Website: https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/vote.html

Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission

Finance Building, Room 309
613 North Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120-0400
Phone: 717-783-1610
Toll free: 800-932-0936
Fax: 717-787-0806
Email: https://www.ethicsforms.pa.gov/Forms/ContactUs
Website: https://www.ethics.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov

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## See also[edit]

* 2024 election dates and deadlines
* Voting in Pennsylvania
* Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Pennsylvania
* Redistricting in Pennsylvania

### Elections in Pennsylvania[edit]

* Pennsylvania elections, 2024
* Pennsylvania elections, 2023
* Pennsylvania elections, 2022
* Pennsylvania elections, 2021
* Pennsylvania elections, 2020
* Pennsylvania elections, 2019
* Pennsylvania elections, 2018
* Pennsylvania elections, 2017
* Pennsylvania elections, 2016
* Pennsylvania elections, 2015
* Pennsylvania elections, 2014

## External links[edit]

* Pennsylvania Department of State - Voting & Elections

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ We use the term "absentee/mail-in voting" to describe systems in which requests or applications are required. We use the term "all-mail voting" to denote systems where the ballots themselves are sent automatically to all voters. We use the hyphenate term for absentee voting because some states use “mail voting” (or a similar alternative) to describe what has traditionally been called "absentee voting."
2. ↑ Department of State, “First Time Voters,” accessed March 21, 2023
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Department of State, “Voter Registration Application,” accessed March 21, 2023
4. ↑ Department of State, “Contact Your Election Officials,” accessed March 21, 2023
5. ↑ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, "Governor Shapiro Implements Automatic Voter Registration in Pennsylvania, Joining Bipartisan Group of States That Have Taken Commonsense Step to Make Voter Registration More Streamlined and Secure," September 19, 2023
6. ↑ NBC, "Pennsylvania rolls out automatic voter registration," September 19, 2023
7. ↑ The Patriot-News, “Thousands take advantage of new online voter registration in Pennsylvania,” September 2, 2015
8. ↑ Janie Valentine, "Email communication with Amy Gulli," September 10, 2024
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 PennLive, "Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf signs historic election reform bill into law," October 31, 2019
10. ↑ Pennsylvania.gov, “Voting in Pennsylvania,” accessed October 1, 2019
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Department of State, “Voting by Absentee Ballot,” accessed March 21, 2023
12. ↑ Pennsylvania General Assembly, “Consolidated Statutes, Title 25,” accessed August 12, 2024
13. ↑ Department of State, "First Time Voters," accessed March 21, 2023
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
15. ↑ Votes PA, "Voting by Provisional Ballot," accessed March 21, 2023
16. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Provisional Ballots," accessed August 13, 2024
17. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures Website, "State Primary Election Types," accessed January 6, 2014
18. ↑ Fair Vote, "Congressional and Presidential Primaries: Open, Closed, Semi-Closed, and 'Top Two,'" accessed January 6, 2014
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Ballotpedia research conducted December 26, 2013, through January 3, 2014, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes. Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "research" defined multiple times with different content
20. ↑ NOLO, "Taking Time Off to Vote," accessed July 22, 2024
21. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
22. ↑ As of May 2024, the Justice Department notes, "Six States (Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) are exempt from the NVRA because, on and after August 1, 1994, they either had no voter-registration requirements or had election-day voter registration at polling places with respect to elections for federal office."
23. ↑ The United States Department of Justice, "The National Voter Registration Act of 1993," accessed May 29, 2024
24. ↑ ERIC, "FAQ," accessed May 29, 2024
25. ↑ ERIC, "Who We Are," accessed May 29, 2024
26. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Post-Election Audits," accessed July 23, 2024
27. ↑ Election Assistance Commission, "Election Audits Across the United States," accessed August 22, 2024
28. ↑ The Philadelphia Inquirer, "New Pa. Supreme Court opinion opens the door for a patchwork of county policies on wrongly dated ballots," February 8, 2022
29. ↑ Election Law Blog, "'Republicans want the Pa. Supreme Court to stop undated mail ballots from being counted,'" October 17, 2022
30. ↑ The Philadelphia Inquirer, "The Pa. Supreme Court has issued a second order on mail ballot dates as the legal fight continues," November 5, 2022
31. ↑ Democracy Docket, "Pennsylvania Undated and Wrongly Dated Mail-In Ballots Challenge (BPEP)," May 28, 2024
32. ↑ Democracy Docket, "Pennsylvania Counties Must Count Undated and Misdated Mail-in Ballots, Court Rules," August 30, 2024
33. ↑ ACLU, "Black Political Empowerment Project v. Schmidt, Memorandum Opinion Granting Summary Relief" August 30, 2024
34. ↑ Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, "McLinko v. Pennsylvania: Opinion and Order," January 28, 2022
35. ↑ The Times, "PA Supreme Court allows mail-in voting for the time being, reviewing state maps," March 3, 2022
36. ↑ Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, "McLinko v. Commonwealth: Opinion," August 2, 2022
37. ↑ Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, "McLinko v. Commonwealth: Dissenting Opinion," August 2, 2022
38. ↑ WHYY, "Automatic straight-ticket voting divides Democrats in statehouse election reform talks," October 23, 2019
39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Pennsylvania Pressroom, "Wolf Administration Directs that New Voting Systems in the Commonwealth Provide Paper Record," February 9, 2018
40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Associated Press, "Pennsylvania to require voting machines with paper backup," February 9, 2018
41. ↑ Verified Voting, "The Verifier - Polling Place Equipment - November 2018," accessed February 14, 2018
42. ↑ BuzzFeed News, "Pennsylvania Will Eliminate Paperless Voting Machines In Time For The 2020 Election," April 12, 2018
43. ↑ PA.gov, "Department of State Tells Counties to Have New Voting Systems in Place by End of 2019," April 12, 2018
44. ↑ All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed April 8, 2015
45. ↑ Indy Week, "Cracked, stacked and packed: Initial redistricting maps met with skepticism and dismay," June 29, 2011
46. ↑ The Atlantic, "How the Voting Rights Act Hurts Democrats and Minorities," June 17, 2013
47. ↑ Redrawing the Lines, "The Role of Section 2 - Majority Minority Districts," accessed April 6, 2015
48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 48.3 All About Redistricting, "Pennsylvania," accessed May 8, 2015

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