How Can I Find Out if My Mail in Ballot Was Counted

Voting by mail service-in or absentee ballot is safe, secure, and easy.

In Pennsylvania, you lot accept 2 options for mail ballots.

Postal service-in ballot – Any qualified voter may apply for a mail-in ballot. You may but request this ballot without a reason.
Absentee election – If you program to be out of the municipality on ballot day or if yous take a disability or affliction that prevents you from going to your polling identify on ballot 24-hour interval, y'all tin can request this ballot type, which still requires you lot to list a reason for your ballot.

In order to request either ballot type, y'all must exist registered to vote. Check Your Registration Condition to review your registration information.

Quick links

Deadlines for the May 17 Primary Election

May 10, 2022 at 5 p.m. - APPLICATIONS for a post-in or absentee election must be received by your canton election board.
May 17, 2022 at 8 p.m. – VOTED BALLOTS must exist RECEIVED by your county election office - postmarks are non enough.

Missed the deadline? If you accept an emergency (such as an unexpected affliction or disability or last-minute absence from your municipality) y'all may however exist able to get a election after the deadline. Find information most how to go an emergency absentee election.

How do I request a mail service-in or absentee ballot?

Any registered voter may request a mail-in election. Absentee ballots can be requested by voters with disabilities or an disease that prevents them from going to their polling place on election day, or those who will be absent from their municipality on Election Day. Request forms must be received by your canton election board past v pm on May 10, 2022.

Accordion

What's the annual mail-in ballot request?

You at present have the option to asking to be added to the annual postal service-in election asking listing where you lot'll receive an application to renew your mail-in ballot request each year. Once your asking is canonical, you will automatically receive ballots for the rest of the yr, and y'all exercise not need to submit an application for each election.

Learn more about the annual post-in ballot request

Third Political party Ballot Delivery for Post Voting

If you have a inability that prevents you lot from applying in person for your mail ballot or delivering your postal service ballot, y'all may designate an agent to deliver your ballot materials for you. You must designate the agent in writing using this course or a form provided past your county.

Accessible Remote Ballot Marking Solution for mail voting

The Department of State is committed to increasing accessibility for voters with disabilities. Pennsylvania voters with disabilities at present have the opportunity to mark their absentee or mail-in ballot electronically. Larn more than nearly the attainable remote ballot marking solution.

How do I vote and render my post-in or absentee ballot?

Below are full general steps on how to vote, set, and return your mail ballot. Be sure to follow the instructions included with your ballot. Contact your county election office if you lot have any questions.

Under Pennsylvania police force, voters must render their ain ballots. The simply exceptions to this are for voters with a disability who accept designated someone in writing to deliver their election.

Step 1:

Read the instructions advisedly and mark your ballot. Be sure to complete the front end and back of each page.

Step 2:

Seal your ballot in the inner secrecy envelope that indicates "official election election." Practise not make any marks on the inner secrecy envelope.

Your election must be enclosed and sealed in the inner secrecy envelope that indicates "official election ballot" or information technology volition not be counted.

Step 3:

Seal the inner secrecy envelope in the pre-addressed outer return envelope. Complete, sign and date the voter's declaration on the outside of the outer return envelope.

If you practice non sign and date below the declaration on the render envelope your ballot will non be counted.

Pace 4:

Return your voted election to the county election board. Absentee and Mail-in Ballots must be received by viii pm on election solar day at your canton election board. To ensure your election is received by the deadline, return the ballot as soon as possible.

You can post your ballot.

Using the render envelope supplied with your ballot, brand sure you use the proper postage (if needed) and that it arrives to your canton election board past 8 pm on ballot day. Postmarks do not count. If your ballot is not received by the canton election lath by 8 pm on election 24-hour interval, it will non be counted

You can paw-deliver your election before 8 pm on election day to your:

canton election office or
other officially designated site
Some counties are providing drop-boxes for mail ballots.

Where do I return my election?

Voters may render their voted mail-in or absentee ballot to their county ballot board of election function during that office's business hours, or another officially designated location. Ballots must be received by your county election board before 8 pm on Ballot Day.

Voting early in-person by mail-in or absentee ballot

If you are a registered Pennsylvania voter, you lot can use the early in-person voting option.

As soon as ballots are ready, you lot can request, receive, vote and bandage your mail-in or absentee ballot all in one visit to your county election lath or other officially designated site.

With this option, there is no need for postal service at all, and you can cast your vote at your convenience. Larn more most voting early in-person past mail-in or absentee election.

Identification for Mail Voting

In guild to utilise for an absentee or mail-in ballot, yous must supply proof of identification. Uniformed and overseas citizens and voters who authorize under the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Human action do not demand to show ID. All other voters must employ one of the following options.

Pick 1

Include i of these ID numbers on your absentee or mail-in ballot class:

Electric current and valid Pennsylvania driver's license
PennDOT photo ID menu

Pick two

If you don't accept one of the documents listed under option 1, you tin include the last four digits of your Social Security number on your absentee or mail-in ballot class.

Selection iii

If yous don't accept one of the documents listed under choice ane or a Social Security number, you can provide a photocopy of 1 of the following IDs with your absentee or post-in election awarding. The photocopy must bear witness name, a photo, and an expiration date that is current.

U.Due south. Passport
U.Southward. Military ID (active duty and retired war machine ID may designate an expiration date that is indefinite). Military dependents' ID must contain a electric current expiration date.
Employee photo identification issued by Federal, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania county, or Pennsylvania municipal government.
Photo identification issued by an accredited Pennsylvania public or individual establishment of higher learning.
Photo identification issued by a Pennsylvania care facility, including long-term care facilities, assisted living residences and personal care homes.

Oftentimes Asked Questions

What if I requested a postal service-in or absentee ballot only I didn't receive a ballot, lost my ballot, or inverse my mind and want to vote in-person?

If yous already submitted a postal service-in or absentee election, you cannot vote at your polling place on Election Day.
If you did not return your mail-in or absentee ballot and you want to vote in person, you accept two options:

Bring your ballot and the pre-addressed outer render envelope to your polling place to be voided. After yous surrender your ballot and envelope and sign a declaration, you can and so vote a regular ballot.
If you don't surrender your election and render envelope, you tin can only vote past provisional ballot at your polling place. Your county election lath will and then verify that you did not vote past postal service earlier counting your conditional ballot.

How do I know if my ballot was accustomed and counted?

Nether current Pennsylvania law, your mail-in ballot tin't exist opened until Election Solar day. Therefore, if there'southward a problem with your post-in election, you won't take the opportunity to right it before the election. Still, every bit long as you followed all the instructions and mailed your completed, signed, dated, and sealed in the inner secrecy envelope, ballot by Election Solar day, you don't have to worry.

Why are at that place two envelopes with my mail-in ballot?

The smaller secrecy envelope is intended to protect the anonymity of your vote. Later on you lot fill up out your ballot, you must place it in the secrecy envelope and seal information technology.

Do not make any marks on this envelope. If you fail to place and seal your ballot in this envelope or if you make marks on this envelope, your ballot will not exist counted.

The second, larger envelope is the mailing and declaration envelope. You must use it, even if you are dropping your ballot off at a drop box. Place your secrecy envelope (with your ballot inside) into the mailing and declaration envelope. You must seal it and sign and date the declaration before you tin can return your ballot.

Both of these envelopes must be used in order for your vote to count.

Observe more Election FAQs

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Source: https://www.vote.pa.gov/Voting-in-PA/Pages/Mail-and-Absentee-Ballot.aspx