Cast Your Ballot
The Phoenix with President Valerie Smith
In Pennsylvania, you can vote either in person on Election Day or by mail before Election Day.
VOTING IN PERSON
Voting in person is just like it sounds. When you register, you’re assigned to a SPECIFIC polling location in your region. On election day, go to that polling location during their prescribed hours to cast your vote. Some states (not Pennsylvania) allow people to cast their votes in person prior to election day. Regardless of where you vote, most states (including Pennsylvania) require first time voters to show ID when going to the polls.
VOTING BY MAIL
Voting by mail means you request and receive a ballot in the mail — fill it out, and return it before or on election day. The regulations around mail-in voting vary from state to state, but most states allow for mail-in voting if certain conditions are met. There are different types of mail-in voting:
- Excuse: Voters in these states will need to provide a valid excuse for not voting in-person on election day in order to vote by absentee ballot.
- No excuse: Any voter in these states can vote by absentee/mail-in ballot, even if they are able to vote in person on election day.
- Mail-in only: Voters in these states only need to request an absentee ballot if they need their ballot mailed to a different address.
Voting by mail deadlines vary widely from state to state. If you're considering voting by mail, check your state's deadlines, so you don't miss out.
And note: you must be registered to vote in order to receive a mail-in or absentee ballot and must request a ballot in most instances.
Find Your Polling Location
If you are voting in person in Swarthmore, find your polling location. The Pennsylvania Department of State's website can also help you identify your polling location either in Swarthmore or anywhere in Pennsylvania.
Or, you can use Vote.org's polling location finder to determine where you vote in person, based on the address where you are registered.
