Too busy to get to the polls on Election Day? Not a fan of waiting in lines? Anxious to just cast your vote and get it over with?
You may want to vote by mail. In Pennsylvania, any registered voter can cast a mail ballot, so long as you meet the proper deadlines. Here’s how you can apply for one, fill it out, and return it ahead of the November election.
Getting a Mail Ballot
First of all, make sure you’re registered to vote in Pennsylvania at your current address by Oct. 21.
Once you’ve confirmed that, you can apply for a mail ballot online, by mail, or in person at a Philly election office. You’ll need to provide your Pennsylvania driver’s license number, PennDOT ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
The deadline to apply for a mail ballot for the November election is Oct. 29 at 5 p.m. You’ll probably want to apply earlier than that though, just to make sure it gets to you in time for the election.
Filling Out the Ballot
Read all the instructions, mark your preferred candidates, and make sure you fill out both sides of the ballot so you can vote in every race.
Once you’re done voting, fold up your ballot and put it in the yellow envelope that says “Official Election Ballot.” Put that envelope inside the pre-addressed, blue-and-white return envelope, and then sign and date that envelope in the marked spot. Double check to make sure the date you wrote is the current day.
Returning the Ballot
You can mail your completed ballot back to the County Board of Elections Office, or you can drop it at an official drop-off location. Here’s a map of those.
The last moment to return a mail ballot is Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. (That’s Election Day.)
Your ballot must be received by the County Board of Elections by that time, so don’t put it in the mail on Election Day! Instead, you’ll want to drop it in an official drop box or return it at the Board of Elections’ office in City Hall. You cannot return a mail ballot at your neighborhood polling place.
BTW, You Can Also Vote by Mail Without Actually Mailing Anything
Philly’s City Commissioners currently operate seven “satellite election offices” across the city, with plans to open three more. Find their addresses and hours here.
At these offices — or at the County Board of Elections in City Hall — you can apply for a mail ballot, fill it out, and return it, all in one go. In other words, you can make sure your vote is signed, sealed, and delivered well ahead of Election Day. Satellite election offices also offer voter registration services.
And you don’t have to worry about fitting this into your weekday errands — these offices and the County Board of Elections both have Saturday and Sunday hours.
