En Espanol | Vietnamese | Korean | Chinese | Sweeping changes in Pennsylvania’s election laws, including one allowing any registered voter to request a mail-in ballot without needing a reason, are making it easier to safely cast a ballot during the coronavirus pandemic:
- A bipartisan law signed last year by Gov. Tom Wolf (D) gives voters more time to register and allows them to request mail-in ballots without providing a specific reason.
- Pennsylvanians can now register to vote up to 15 days before the election. Previously, there was a 30-day deadline.
- Officials also created a permanent mail-in voter list and set aside $90 million for more secure voting machines.
- The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in September that absentee and mail-in ballots will be counted if they are received by 5 p.m. on the Friday after the Nov. 3 election (Nov. 6), though ballots must be postmarked by Election Day. The U.S. Supreme Court in October denied a request by the Republican Party of Pennsylvania to block that ruling. Ballots sent without a proper envelope will not be counted.
Here’s what else you need to know:
How do I register to vote?
You can register online, by mail or in person. If you have a Pennsylvania driver’s license or PennDOT ID card, register at VotesPA.com. If you don’t have either ID, download and complete the registration form and mail it to your county Board of Elections. To vote in the Nov. 3 election, you must register by Monday, Oct. 19.
You can register in person at certain government agencies, including Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Photo License and Driver’s License Centers. If you have questions about registration, call the state’s Votes PA office: 877-VOTESPA (868-3772).
What are my two options to vote from home? Are there important deadlines?
You don't need an excuse or specific reason to get a mail-in ballot. You can apply online or download the application and mail it to your county Board of Elections. Applications for mail-in ballots must be received by your county election office by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
Absentee ballots are different than mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania. Absentee ballots are available for people traveling on Election Day, those with a physical disability or illness, members of the military, people who have a religious holiday conflict and inmates who haven’t been convicted of a felony. Voters should apply for a mail-in ballot if they don’t want to go to the polls because of the pandemic but apply for an absentee ballot if they are away. You can apply for an absentee ballot online or download and print out an application to mail to your county Board of Elections.
What are naked ballots and secrecy envelopes? How can I make sure my vote counts?
If you choose to vote from home by requesting an absentee or mail-in ballot, you need to carefully follow the instructions provided for Pennsylvania’s two-step envelope process.
Once you fill out your ballot using a black or blue pen, fold it in half and put it inside the smaller envelope, which is called the secrecy envelope. It reads: “Official Election Ballot.” Then, seal the secrecy envelope and place it inside the larger addressed, postage-paid return envelope. On the back of this envelope, sign and print your name, write your address, seal it and drop it in the mail.
If you forget to use the secrecy envelope and drop your completed ballot in the larger postage-paid return envelope, your ballot will be deemed a “naked ballot." Based on a recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling, election officials will have to throw it out.
How do I know my mail ballot is secure?
The state has a barcode tracking system on envelopes to prevent fraud, such as duplicate votes. The state also won't count ballots that are sent without a proper envelope.
When is Election Day? When are polls open?
Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Ballots can also be placed in secure drop boxes managed by local election officials.
Can I vote before Election Day?
Only by mail. There is no in-person early voting in Pennsylvania.
What are drop boxes and satellite offices?
State law allows voters to hand-deliver absentee or mail-in ballots to their local county election office. Offices can also choose to open satellite voting locations to administer voter services — and they can establish secure drop box locations where voters can deliver ballots in the county in which they are registered. Hand-delivered ballots must be received by Nov. 3 at 8 p.m.
Contact your county Board of Elections to find out if drop boxes or satellite offices are available and where they are located.
What form of identification do I need to vote?
You only need to show an ID the first time you vote in person. You don’t need it for subsequent trips to the polls. Acceptable forms of ID include a Pennsylvania driver’s license, voter registration card or U.S. passport. Find a full list here.
What is being done to make polling places safe from coronavirus?
Counties have enacted various safety measures, such as tape markers six feet apart for social distancing, hand sanitizer and personal protection equipment for election workers.
Will I be able to vote in the same place as I always have?
Not necessarily. Fewer election workers may mean combining some polling places. Find your polling place on the Pennsylvania Department of State’s website before heading to the polls.
What are the key races in my state?
- U.S. President
- U.S. House: All 18 seats
- State Executive Offices: Auditor general, attorney general and treasurer
- State Senate: 25 of 50 seats
- State House: All 203 seats
This story was updated on Oct. 19 with more information about secrecy ballots and drop boxes. Voting rules and procedures may change before Election Day. We’ll update this story if they do, so bookmark this page and check back.
AARP is urging older Americans to ask the candidates 5 key questions:
- Just over half of all older Social Security beneficiaries rely on the program for at least 50 percent of their income. If elected, how will you ensure that current and future Social Security benefits are not cut as part of deficit reduction?
- Half of the people with traditional Medicare spend at least a sixth of their income on health care. If elected, how will you protect Medicare from benefit cuts, as well as lower health care costs and ensure seniors continue receiving the affordable health care they have earned?
- Unemployment during the coronavirus crisis reached the highest levels since the Great Depression, and older Americans have been affected disproportionately. If elected, how will you help Americans over the age of 50 recover economically from the effects of the coronavirus?
- Americans pay the highest prescription drug prices in the world. If elected, how will you cut prescription drug prices for all Americans?
- COVID-19 has caused death and suffering for too many older Americans who require long-term care. If elected, how will you make sure seniors can access safe and affordable long-term care at home, as well as in facilities like nursing homes and assisted living?
Also of Interest
- Stay updated on the 2020 election at AARP.org/election2020.
- For the latest coronavirus news and advice go to AARP.org/coronavirus.