Big Changes To Voting In PA: Here's How To Use Mail-In Ballot

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania residents can now sign up online to vote by mail-in ballot for the April primary. For the first time, thanks to an election reform bill signed in October, Pennsylvanians can use a mail-in ballot without having to provide a reason.

The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is 5 p.m. on April 21. The deadline to return your completed mail-in ballot is 8 p.m. on Election Day.

You must be registered to vote in order to apply to vote by mail-in ballot.

The legislation, known as Act 77, was "the most significant improvement to Pennsylvania's elections in more than 80 years," Gov. Tom Wolf said at the time he signed it. The law establishes an array of changes to the voting laws to enable a more convenient voting system.

Under the new rules, residents can vote by mail up to 50 days before an election. Voters can also elect to be placed on a list to permanently receive a ballot application by mail.

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To vote by mail, apply online for a ballot, or download and print the application and mail it to your county election office. You can also apply for and vote the ballot in person at the appropriate county election office.

Identification requirements to vote by mail include a driver’s license number if you have one, or the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number. If you do not have a driver’s license or Social Security Number, you'll have to submit a copy of an acceptable photo ID.

After applying, mail-in voters will receive a ballot in the mail to complete and return to their county election office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. The online application allows mail-in voters to request that their county election office add them to an annual mail-in voter ballot request list. If you elect to do so, your ballot application will be automatically mailed each year.

Under the new law, counties must begin processing mail-in and absentee ballot applications 50 days before the election. For the April primary, processing will begin March 9.

Also, under Act 77, Pennsylvanians can now register to vote up to 15 days before an election. The voter registration deadline for the April 28 primary is April 13.

Visit this site to apply online to vote by mail-in ballot.