Pennsylvania

how to vote FROM YOUR HOSPITAL BED

EASY STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

DOWNLOAD A FLYER

DeADLINES TO NOTE

​

The emergency absentee ballot request is for emergencies that occur after 5pm on the Friday before Election Day

FROM THE VOTES PA WEBSITE

​

If you have an emergency after 5 pm on the Friday before Election Day, you may still be able to vote.  

The deadline to submit your last-minute Emergency Absentee Ballot application is no later than 8 pm on Election Day. 

You can get a last-minute Emergency Absentee Ballot if:

• • You have an emergency after 5 pm on the Friday before Election Day.

  • You find out after 5 pm on the Friday before Election Day that you must be absent from the municipality where you live on Election Day. Acceptable reasons include business, duties, or occupation. 

To get an Emergency Absentee Ballot, you must give your information to the Court of Common Pleas in the county where you registered to vote. 

To request an Emergency Absentee Ballot, you can:

• • Complete an official Emergency Absentee Ballot Application.

  • Write a letter with signature or other signed document. You must include the same information as that on the Emergency Absentee Ballot Application. 

If you are not able to appear in court, you can choose another person to get the ballot, deliver it to you, and return the completed ballot to the county election office. 

If you are not able to appear in court or get help from another person, the judge will direct a deputy sheriff of the county to deliver the absentee ballot to you. To use this option you must be in the county.

​

Pennsylvania STATE LAW

​

§ 3302.  Application for absentee ballots.

(a)  General rule.--Notwithstanding the provisions of Part IV (relating to voter registration) or the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, the following persons may make application for an absentee ballot by sending a letter or other signed document to the county board of elections in the county in which the person's voting address is located:

(1)  A registered elector who is unable to attend the polling place on the day of any primary or election because of illness or physical disability. (...)

(b)  Contents of letter or document.--The letter or document under subsection (a) shall provide the same information as is provided on forms prescribed by the secretary.

(c)  Review and processing.--The letter or document shall be subject to the same schedule as other applications for absentee ballots and upon receipt by the county board of elections shall be reviewed and processed in the same fashion as other applications for absentee ballots.

(d)  Application prepared by political party.--An absentee ballot application form containing the same information as that contained on the form prescribed by the secretary, which was prepared or distributed by a political party and signed by a registered elector, shall be deemed for all purposes as valid and shall be reviewed and processed by the county board of elections in the same manner as applications on forms prescribed by the secretary and supplied by the county board of elections.