How to register to vote in Pennsylvania before the 2024 election

Voters will head to the polls in less than two months for the 2024 election. While the presidential contest between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is top of mind for many Americans, a number of state and local elections will also be on the ballot this November.
As election day gets closer, here’s what Pennsylvanians need to know about checking their voter registration, registering to vote and more.
Residents can check their voter registration status online through the Pennsylvania Department of State by searching for their name or Driver’s License Number or PennDOT ID.
If you search by name, you’ll need the following information:
If you search by Driver’s License Number or PennDOT ID, you’ll just need your birthdate and license/PennDOT ID card number.
To register to vote in Pennsylvania, you must be a United States citizen for at least one month before the election.
Voters must be at least 18 years old on or before the day of the election, and be a resident of Pennsylvania in the election district where you want to vote for at least 30 days before the election.
Pennsylvanians must register to vote at least 15 days before the next election. The deadline to register for the November election in Pennsylvania is Oct. 21, 2024.
Veterans and people serving in the U.S. military, along with those living overseas, have additional options for voting.
Residents can register to vote online, by mail or in-person at county election offices or PennDOT/other government agency buildings.
There are two ways to vote by mail in Pennsylvania, by mail-in ballot or absentee ballot.
According to the state, any registered voter can apply to vote via mail-in ballot. Voters don’t need to give a reason why they want to vote by mail.
An absentee ballot can be used if a voter is outside their municipality on election day or has a disability or illness that prevents them from going to the polls. Voters requesting absentee ballots will be required to provide a reason for why they want to vote by mail.
Mail-in and absentee ballot applications must be received by your county election office by 5 p.m. on Oct. 29, 2024.
County election offices must receive completed mail ballots by 8 p.m. on Nov. 5.
Completed military and overseas absentee ballots must be submitted for delivery no later than 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 4 and received by Nov. 12, 2024.
An emergency absentee ballot can still be requested after the Oct. 29 deadline.
Voters can apply for mail ballots online, by mail and at their county election office or officially designated location.