How do I register to vote or check my registration?

County Board of Elections (county level - each of PA's 67 counties) / Pennsylvania Department of State (state level)

Step by Step

How to do it

Confirm eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen for at least 1 month before Election Day, a PA resident for at least 30 days before Election Day, at least 18 years old on or before Election Day, not currently confined in a penal institution for a felony conviction (see State Notes), and not currently adjudicated incompetent
Choose your registration method:
ONLINE: vote.pa.gov (Pennsylvania Voter Registration portal) - requires PA driver's license/PennDOT ID number or last 4 digits of SSN; deadline: 15 days before Election Day
BY MAIL: Download PA voter registration form from vote.pa.gov; complete, sign, mail to your County Board of Elections - RECEIVED by 15 days before Election Day
IN PERSON: County Board of Elections office; Pennsylvania DMV/PennDOT (motor voter); many state agencies - in-person deadline: 15 days before Election Day
NOTE: Pennsylvania does NOT offer same-day voter registration
Submit registration by 15 days before Election Day
Receive voter registration card from county

Details

What you need to know

Required Docs

PA driver's license/PennDOT ID number; OR last 4 digits of SSN; OR signature if neither available
Current PA address

Fee

Free REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 15 days before Election Day (received - online, mail, in-person) NO SAME-DAY REGISTRATION: Pennsylvania does NOT offer same-day voter registration CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION: vote.pa.gov or pavoterservices.pa.gov NO-EXCUSE MAIL-IN VOTING: Any registered PA voter may apply for a mail-in ballot without excuse; request online at vote.pa.gov or through your county BOE; mail-in ballot request deadline: 7 days before Election Day; voted ballot must be RECEIVED by county BOE by 8 PM on Election Day NO EARLY VOTING: Pennsylvania does NOT have traditional early voting (no early voting polling places); however, voters may cast mail-in ballots in person at county election offices up to 50 days before Election Day; this functions similarly to early voting ONLINE OPTION: Yes - vote.pa.gov (registration, mail-in ballot application, status check) WHERE TO GO: County Board of Elections; PennDOT (motor voter); many state agencies

Online Option

Yes - vote.pa.gov (registration, mail-in ballot application, status check)

Where to Go

County Board of Elections; PennDOT (motor voter); many state agencies

County-specific variations apply

Each of PA's 67 counties has its own Board of Elections. Philadelphia, Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), Montgomery County, Chester County, Delaware County, and Bucks County have the largest systems. All 67 counties administer mail-in voting locally. Early in-person mail-in ballot voting is available at county BOE offices and, in some larger counties, at satellite offices. Contact your specific county BOE for locations and hours.

Pennsylvania Notes

Important state-specific details

NO SAME-DAY REGISTRATION - 15-day advance deadline.
NO TRADITIONAL EARLY VOTING - but mail-in ballot in person at county BOE office is available up to 50 days before election.
NO-EXCUSE MAIL-IN VOTING: any registered voter can vote by mail; application required; significant expansion since 2020.
FELONY VOTING RIGHTS: Pennsylvania restores voting rights upon release from incarceration; once no longer in prison, can register and vote; parole, probation, and community supervision do NOT restrict voting; pretrial detainees CAN vote (awaiting trial only - not serving felony sentence); misdemeanor convictions do NOT affect voting rights; permanent bar for multiple violations of Pennsylvania Election Code.
PHOTO ID required for first-time voters voting in person; returning voters may show photo ID or non-photo ID; accepted: PA driver's license, PennDOT photo ID, passport, non-photo government ID with name/address.
Mail-in ballot requires driver's license number, PennDOT ID, or last 4 SSN on application - important requirement.
Polls open 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM (anyone in line at 8 PM must be allowed to vote).

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Elections - vote.pa.gov | (877) VOTE-SPA (868-3772); pavoterservices.pa.gov; County Board of Elections (varies by county)