Make Your 2020 Vote Count -- Vote By Mail!

October 5, 2020

What every Pennsylvanian needs to know to get a mail-in ballot on time and have it count in November.

Angled mail-in ballot covered by a angled blue cloth mask

Photo by Tiffany Tertipes on Unsplash

By Jen Quinn, Legislative and Political Director

Thanks to a new Pennsylvania law passed in 2019, which allowed for more secure and accessible voting options, more than 1.5 million Pennsylvanians voted by mail for the first time in the June Primary election. That's historic!

With the general election about a month away, and the COVID-19 crisis far from over, the option to vote by mail-in ballot could not be more critical. As we would like all eligible Pennsylvania voters to take advantage of voting by mail, here are a few helpful steps to follow:

Step 1: Register to Vote

Check your registration status. You must be registered to vote in order to vote by mail-in ballot. The last day to register is October 19, 2020. 

Step 2: Apply for a Mail-in Ballot

Submit an application for a mail-in ballot online, by mail, or at your county election office.

Apply Online

Apply at VotesPA.com/ApplyMailBallot with a valid PA driver's license or photo I.D. from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). 

Apply By Mail

Download and print a paper mail-in ballot application.

Don’t have a printer? Submit an online request to have a paper application mailed to you.

More options

Mail-in ballot applications for the November 3, 2020, general election must be RECEIVED by your county election office by 5 p.m. on October 27, 2020.

Step 3: Vote!

Once your application is accepted, you'll be sent a mail-in ballot with instructions from your county election office.

Tips for completing your mail-in ballot:

  1. Fill in the ovals next to a candidate’s name with black or blue ink.
  2. Seal your ballot in the smaller secrecy envelope.
  3. Place that in the larger pre-addressed return envelope.
  4. Sign and date the voter declaration on back of the mailing envelope.

The deadline to return your completed, postmarked mail-in ballot, either in-person or by mail, is 8 p.m. on election day, November 3, 2020.

To recap, here are the important dates to remember:

  • Register to vote by October 19
  • Request your mail-in ballot by 5 p.m. on October 27
  • Return your completed ballot by 8 p.m. on November 3 (Election Day)
  • Your county election office must receive your postmarked mail-in ballot by 5 p.m. on November 6

Follow these simple steps, apply early, and remember to return your mail-in ballot right away. This election is too important and we want to ensure every vote counts!

Protect yourself, your fellow Pennsylvanians, and our democracy this November by taking advantage of voting by mail.

Can you help us make a difference in the 2020 election? Encourage your friends and family to stay safe and vote by mail. Learn more at votespa.com.