Hey Pittsburgh newsletter editor Francesca Dabecco edited this article and added local resources.
Too busy to get to the polls on Election Day? Not a fan of waiting in lines? You may want to vote by mail. In Pennsylvania, any registered voter can cast a mail ballot if you meet the proper deadlines. Here’s what to do ⬇️
✉️ Request a Mail Ballot
First, 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 the Allegheny County elections office Downtown. 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 is Oct. 29 at 5 p.m.
- ➡️ Tip: Apply earlier to make sure it gets to you in time!
✍️ Fill 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 secrecy envelope that says “Official Election Ballot.” Put that envelope inside the pre-addressed envelope, and sign and date that envelope in the marked spot.
- ➡️ Tip: Double check to make sure the date you wrote is the current day. Mail ballots with flawed dates or missing information could be thrown out.
Some Pennsylvania voters have received ballots stuck together or envelopes that were already sealed, likely due to humidity. If that happens to you, pick up a new ballot at a satellite office.
If you forgot to mail your ballot, you can take it to your polling place. Poll workers can not accept your mail ballot as a vote, but they can void it and allow you to vote in person. If you misplaced your mail ballot, you can still vote with a provisional ballot at your polling place.
📬 Return the Ballot
You can mail your completed ballot to the Allegheny County elections office, or you can drop it at an official drop-off location. Satellite schedules vary.
The last day and time to return a mail ballot is Nov. 5 (Election Day) at 8 p.m.
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! You cannot return a mail ballot at your neighborhood polling place.
🗳️ OR Vote by Mail (Without Actually Mailing It)
The County Office Building at 542 Forbes Avenue will be open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for “over the counter voting.” That’s where you request, complete, and return your ballot all in one place. This can all be done on the same day. You can also vote at satellite election offices, which have weekend hours. The deadline is Election Day.
- ➡️ Tip: The county elections office and satellites also offer voter registration before Oct. 21.
