Make your Plan to Vote!

A guide to voting in the 2022 General Election

Updated: October 27, 2022

As of 2020, there are now 3 ways for all registered Pennsylvania voters to cast their ballots in the General Election: (1) early in-person, (2) by mail, and (3) in-person on Election Day!

If you are a registered Pennsylvania voter, you have the convenient option of applying for a mail-in ballot in-person at your County Board of Elections office, then completing the ballot while there. As soon as ballots are ready, you can request, receive, vote and cast your mail-in or absentee ballot all in one visit to your county election board or other designated location.

WHAT TO BRING: You will need your PennDOT ID number or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. Please refer to the list of ID requirements for mail-in or absentee ballots for more information.

DEADLINE: November 1, 2022 at 5PM

Philadelphia County Board of Elections
Phone: 215-686-3469
Hours: Monday-Thursday (11:30AM-6:30PM), Friday-Sunday (9:30AM-4:30PM)
Location: City Hall Room 140, 1400 John F Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19107

REMEMBER: If you submit your completed mail-in or absentee ballot, then you cannot vote at your polling place on Election Day.

Apply

If you are a registered Pennsylvania voter, you can apply to vote by mail online using the Ballot Request Application:

If you're unable to submit an application online or don't have a printer to download an application form, you may submit an online request to have a form mailed to you or visit your County Board of Elections office in-person to request an application.

DEADLINE: November 1, 2022 at 5PM

NOTE: You must apply for an absentee or mail-in ballot for each election, unless you qualify for and request permanent status to vote by mail-in ballot.

How to Fill-out Ballot 

Once you’ve received your mail-in ballot, open it up and inside you should find:

1. Instructions

2. Pamphlet explaining the ballot questions 

3. Ballot

4. Privacy Envelope (the smaller envelope)

5. Mailing Envelope (the slightly larger envelope)

For reference, please review the image below of a mail-in ballot from the primary election:

Follow the instructions closely, or your ballot might not be accepted. When completing your ballot, use a black or blue ink pen to completely fill in the oval to the left of your desired candidate’s name. 

Once your ballot is completed, refold it and place it in the smaller Secrecy Envelope which reads “Official Election Ballot”. Seal this envelope and place it inside the slightly larger Mailing Envelope which reads “Official Election Mail.” Nothing else should be enclosed in these envelopes — only your ballot. A ballot without both of these envelopes is considered a “naked ballot” and will not be counted, so it is important to get this right!

REMEMBER: You must fill out, date, and sign your voter’s declaration on the back of Mailing Envelope! Once you have filled out, dated, and signed it, your mail-in ballot is ready to be returned.

Return

Mail-in ballots must be received by November 8 at 8PM. Due to potential USPS delays, we recommend returning your ballot as soon as possible! If you do not want to return your ballot by the mail, or if you do not have time, you can personally drop off your ballot at a drop box or satellite elections office near you.

• Return In-Person at a Satellite Elections Office:

  • You can personally return your ballot to your County Board of Elections office or a satellite county elections office (if available) during their hours of operation (see list below):

    • Philadelphia County Board of Elections
      Hours: Monday-Thursday (11:30AM-6:30PM), Friday-Sunday (9:30AM-4:30PM)
      Location: City Hall Room 140, 1400 John F Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19107

• Return by Drop-off Box:

  • There are currently seventeen drop box locations in Philadelphia where voters can return their mail-in ballots:

Track

Once your mail-in application is received, you will be able to track the status of your mail-in ballot. If you included your email address in your application, you should receive automated emails notifying you of changes to your ballot status. Closer to the election, the status will change to notify you when your ballot is mailed and then again when your ballot has been received by the county election office.

What if my Mail-In Ballot never arrived, or I lost it? 
You can still vote at your polling place on Election Day using a Provisional Ballot.

What if I receive my Mail-In Ballot but it’s too late to mail it back on time?
You have two options: 1) You can deliver your Mail-In Ballot to the County Elections Office in-person, or use a drop-box, if available.  2) You can return the Mail-In Ballot and barcoded envelope at your polling place on Election Day. You will be permitted to use a Regular Ballot.

What if I have a medical emergency that will prevent me from going to the polls, but it is after the deadline to request an Absentee Ballot?
You can request an Absentee Emergency Ballot, and authorize someone else to pick up and return your Ballot using the forms below:

• ​Emergency Application for Absentee Ballot (PDF) 

• Authorized Representative for Emergency Absentee Ballot Form

Need help making your plan to vote? Contact the Voter Assistance Hotline! 

Phone: 1-833-PA-VOTES (728-6837)
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9AM-6PM
Note: Spanish language voicemail is available!

Questions on Election Day?

Call 1-877-868-3772 for official answers from the Dept. of State. Interpreters are available.

• VotesPA Guide to Voting in Pennsylvania - A comprehensive guide by the Pennsylvania Government

• VotesPA Resource Center - List of Forms on the Pennsylvania Government Website

• The Philadelphia Citizen - “How to Vote in the 2022 General Election in PA”