How and When to Apply for an Official Absentee Ballot
New Information for Absentee Voters
Excepting absentee voters who have a disability, all absentee ballots must be delivered to the county board of elections either in person or through the U.S. Mail. Absentee ballots delivered for absentee voters who do not have a disability by any other means will not be accepted or counted by the county board of elections.
Absentee Ballots & Registered Voters
How to Obtain an Absentee Ballot Application:
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Contact your county board of elections by clicking here.
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If you would like to designate another person to assist you in delivering a completed Absentee or Alternative Ballot, print, complete, and return the two following forms:
Designation of Agent to Assist Disabled Voter in Delivering Completed Absentee or Alternative Ballot
Certification of Designated Agent
Who may Vote by Absentee Ballot?
The following qualified electors who (unless otherwise indicated) are registered to vote are eligible to vote for any office in any election by absentee ballot:
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An individual who is or may be in the military service of the United States, regardless of whether at the time of voting the military elector is present in the election district of residence or in the Commonwealth and regardless of whether the elector is registered to vote.
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A spouse or dependent residing with or accompanying a person in the military service of the United States and who expects on Election Day to be absent from his/her municipality of residence during the entire period in which the polling places are open for voting (7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.).
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A member of the Merchant Marine, and his/her spouse and dependents residing with or accompanying the Merchant Marine, who expect on Election Day to be absent from the Commonwealth or the municipality of residence during the entire period in which the polling places are open for voting (7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M).
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A member of a religious or welfare group attached to and serving with the armed forces, and his/her spouse and dependents residing with or accompanying him or her, who expect on Election Day to be absent from the Commonwealth or the municipality of residence during the entire period in which the polling places are open for voting (7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M).
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An individual who, because of the elector's duties, occupation or business (including leaves of absence for teaching, vacations, and sabbatical leaves), expects on Election Day to be absent from his/her municipality of residence during the entire period the polls are open for voting, and the spouse and dependents of such electors who are residing with or accompanying the elector and for that reason also expect to be absent from his/her municipality during the entire period the polls are open for voting (7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M).
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A qualified war veteran elector who is bedridden or hospitalized due to illness or physical disability if the elector is absent from the municipality of his residence and unable to attend his/her polling place because of such illness or disability, regardless of whether the elector is registered to vote.
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A person who, because of illness or physical disability, is unable to attend his/her polling place or to operate a voting machine and obtain assistance by distinct and audible statements. (Note: A disabled elector may be placed on a permanently disabled absentee file).
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A spouse or dependent accompanying a person employed by the Commonwealth or the Federal Government, in the event that the employee's duties, occupation or business on Election Day require him/her to be absent from the Commonwealth or the municipality of residence during the entire period the polls are open for voting (7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M).
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A county employee who expects that his Election Day duties relating to the conduct of the election will prevent the employee from voting.
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A person who will not attend a polling place on Election Day because of the observance of a religious holiday.
*IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ALTERNATIVE BALLOTS*
Regardless of a voter's eligibility to vote by absentee ballot under Pennsylvania law, Federal law entitles certain voters to vote by Alternative Ballot
Any registered elector who has a disability, or who is 65 years of age or older irrespective of disability, and who has been assigned to vote at a polling place that has been officially designated as "inaccessible" by the county board of elections, has the right to vote through an Alternative Ballot.
A voter who is qualified to vote by Alternative Ballot has the right to do so irrespective of whether the voter is in fact able to appear to vote at the polling place. The purpose of the Alternative Ballot is to offer a qualified voter who has been assigned to an inaccessible polling place an alternative means to vote without having to appear at the inaccessible polling place or to qualify to vote by Absentee Ballot.
An Alternative Ballot is a paper ballot for which a qualified voter must apply to the county board of elections at least seven days before Election Day. If approved, a voter may complete his/her Alternative Ballot at any time before the close of the polls on Election Day. However, the county board of elections must receive the completed Alternative Ballot (either through the U.S. mail or by hand-delivery to the offices of the county board of elections) no later than 8:00 P.M. on Election Day. However, an application for an Emergency Alternative Ballot may be submitted until 8:00 P.M. on Election Day.
Click here for more information regarding Alternative Ballots.
Absentee Ballot Application Deadlines for Registered Voters
Except for military electors and civilian electors who make an emergency application for absentee ballot, an absentee ballot application must be completed, signed by the elector, and received by the county board of elections no later than 5:00 P.M. on the Tuesday before Election Day.
Making Application for an Absentee Ballot by Letter
A qualified absentee elector may apply for an absentee ballot either through an application form or through letter. An application by letter or other document must be signed by the elector and must include the same information as required on forms prescribed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The county board of elections must receive letter applications no later than 5:00 P.M. on the Tuesday before Election Day.
Electors in Military Service & Absentee Ballots
A letter to Pennsylvanians Serving in the Armed Forces from Major General Jessica L. Wright, The Adjutant General and Pedro A. Cortés, Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Letter to Members of the Armed Forces
Obtaining an Absentee Ballot Application
NOTE: Absentee electors in military service are not required to be registered to vote.
Absentee electors in military service may obtain an absentee ballot by:
1. Filing an Official Military Application Form (Federal Form Number 76), distributed by the United States Department of Defense.
2. Filing any other official absentee ballot application form to request an absentee ballot.
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Only an elector or an adult member of his/her immediate family may submit an application for an absentee ballot.
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A military elector who is home on Election Day and who has not voted an absentee ballot may, if registered, appear at his/her election district polling place and vote.
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In the event the military elector is not registered, he/she may apply in person and vote at the office of the county board of elections.
Absentee Ballot Application Deadlines for Electors in Military Service
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Completed absentee ballot applications must be received by the county board of elections no later than 5:00 P.M. on the Friday before Election Day.
Special Write-In Absentee Ballots
Ordinarily an absentee elector will vote on an Official Absentee Ballot printed by the county board of elections that appears substantially the same as the ballots or ballot labels that will be used on Election Day at the polling places. However, absentee military electors and civilian absentee voters who are outside the United States on Election Day might receive a special write-in absentee ballot. Elections officials use these special write-in ballots when they are required by law to deliver absentee ballots to these absentee voters, but official absentee ballots have not yet been printed.
The special write-in ballot includes all of the offices and questions that will appear on the official ballots for the electors election district, but not the names of the candidates for the offices. Instead, elections officials will provide to the voter a separate list that will include the names of all of the candidates who have filed petitions or papers seeking to appear on the official ballot and who have not withdrawn or had their names removed from the ballot by a court.
A special write-in absentee ballot returned to the county board of elections will be handled and counted in the same manner as an absentee ballot cast on an official absentee ballot.
Emergency Absentee Ballots
Obtaining an Emergency Absentee Ballot Application
If you did not know or have a reason to apply for an absentee ballot by 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to Election Day, you may download and apply for an Emergency Absentee Ballot. This application must be notarized before it is submitted. Download the application by clicking here.
Requirements for Emergency Absentee Ballot Applications
The county board of elections will process and approve only those emergency absentee ballot applications that have been completed and signed by the applicant elector before a notary public.
Emergency Absentee Ballot Application Deadline
Emergency absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the county board of elections between 5:00 P.M. on the Tuesday before Election Day and 5:00 P.M. on the Friday before Election Day.
HOW TO OBTAIN AN EMERGENCY ABSENTEE BALLOT IF AN EMERGENCY OCCURS AFTER 5:00PM ON THE FRIDAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY
If you become physically disabled or ill between 5:00 P.M. on the Friday before Election Day and 8:00 P.M. on Election Day or if you find out after 5:00 P.M. on the Friday before Election Day that you will be absent from your municipality of residence on Election Day because of your business, duties or occupation, you can receive an emergency absentee ballot if you complete and file with the court of common pleas in the county where you are registered to vote an emergency application or a letter or other signed document, which includes the same information as that provided on the emergency application.
Obtaining an Emergency Absentee Ballot IF You Are Not Able to Appear in Court
If you are not able to appear in court to receive the ballot, you can designate, in writing, a representative to deliver the absentee ballot to you and return your completed absentee ballot to the county board of elections.
If you are not able to appear in court or obtain assistance from an authorized representative, the judge will direct a deputy sheriff of the county to deliver the absentee ballot to you if you are at a physical location within the county.
Deadline to Apply for an Absentee Ballot When an Emergency Occurs After 5:00 P.M. on the Friday before Election Day
Emergency absentee ballot applications from voters who experience an emergency after 5:00 P.M. on the Friday before Election Day must be submitted to the court of common pleas no later than 8:00 P.M. on Election Day.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: To designate an authorized representative to deliver your emergency absentee ballot, you must complete and sign the Authorized Representative Form and the authorized representative must complete and sign the Certification of Authorized Representative.