2025 Pennsylvania Philadelphia Election Voting Guide

Guide 1: Essential Dates and Deadlines

Pennsylvania General Election: November 4, 2025（Pennsylvania Philadelphia）

Critical Deadlines:

October 20: Last day to register to vote
October 28, 5:00 PM: Final deadline to apply for mail or absentee ballot
November 3, 11:59 PM: Deadline for military and overseas absentee ballots (must be received by November 12)
November 4, 8:00 PM: Election Day – all ballots must be received (postmarks do not count)

Polling Hours:

Polls open 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM
If you’re in line by 8:00 PM, you can still vote

Guide 2: Voter Registration

Who Can Register?

You are eligible to register if you:

Will be a U.S. citizen for at least 30 days before the election
Are a Pennsylvania resident for at least 30 days before the election
Will be at least 18 years old on or before Election Day

Who Cannot Vote?

People currently incarcerated for felony convictions
People convicted of violating Pennsylvania’s election code within the past 4 years

Who CAN Vote?

People serving time for misdemeanor charges
People on probation, parole, or house arrest
People previously convicted of felonies who have been released from incarceration
Pretrial detainees

How to Register

Online: Visit pavoterservices.pa.gov

By Mail: Download and mail registration form to your county election office

Check Status: Verify your registration online at pavoterservices.pa.gov

Guide 3: Mail-In and Absentee Voting

Requesting Your Ballot

Application Deadline: October 28, 5:00 PM

How to Apply:

Online: Visit pavoterservices.pa.gov and select “Mail-In Ballot Application”
By Mail: Download application and mail to County Board of Elections, City Hall, Room 142, Philadelphia, PA 19107
In Person: Apply at City Hall Room 142 or satellite election offices

Required Identification

You must provide ONE of the following:

Current valid PA driver’s license number
PennDOT ID card number
Last 4 digits of Social Security number
Copy of acceptable photo ID (passport, military ID, student ID, employee ID)

Completing Your Mail Ballot

Step 1: Mark your ballot carefully, completing both sides of each page

Step 2: Place ballot in inner secrecy envelope marked “Official Election Ballot” and seal (DO NOT mark this envelope)

Step 3: Place secrecy envelope in outer return envelope and seal

Step 4: Complete voter declaration on outer envelope, sign and date it

IMPORTANT: Your ballot will NOT be counted if:

Not sealed in the inner secrecy envelope
Outer envelope is not signed and dated
Received after 8:00 PM on Election Day

Returning Your Ballot

By Mail: Send early to ensure arrival by November 4, 8:00 PM

Drop Box: Use official county drop boxes (find locations at vote.phila.gov/ballot-drop-off)

In Person: County election office or satellite offices during business hours

Note: You must return your own ballot. Exception: voters with disabilities may designate an agent using the official Designated Agent Form.

Guide 4: In-Person Voting

Find Your Polling Place

Use Pennsylvania’s polling place finder at pavoterservices.pa.gov or Philadelphia’s Atlas tool

What to Bring

Most voters need NO ID

ID Required for:

First-time voters
Voters at a new polling place

Acceptable Photo ID:

PA driver’s license or PennDOT ID
U.S. passport
Government-issued ID
Student ID
Armed Forces ID
Employee ID

Acceptable Non-Photo ID:

Voter registration card
Current utility bill
Current bank statement
Current paycheck
Government check
Firearm permit

Election System Guide

Early In-Person Voting

Pennsylvania doesn’t have traditional early voting, but you can:

Apply for a mail ballot in person
Complete the ballot on-site
Submit it immediately

Available at county election offices and satellite locations through October 28, 5:00 PM

If You Have a Mail Ballot But Want to Vote In Person

Option 1: Bring your ballot and outer envelope to your polling place to be voided, then vote normally

Option 2: Vote by provisional ballot (county will verify you didn’t mail your ballot before counting it)

Guide 5: Special Circumstances

Voters with Disabilities

Accessible Voting:

Every polling place must have at least one accessible voting system
You may bring someone to assist you (not your employer, union rep, or election judge)
First-time assistance requires completing a Declaration of Need form

Mail Ballot Assistance:

Accessible Remote Ballot Marking Solution available for electronic ballot marking
Designated agents can deliver ballots for voters with disabilities
Alternative ballots available if polling place is inaccessible

Permanent Disability:

Apply for permanent absentee voter list
Receive ballots automatically for all future elections

Military and Overseas Voters

Special Provisions:

Ballots due by 11:59 PM November 3 (7-day receipt window)
Can receive ballots by email upon request
Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) available
Use Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to register and request ballot

Contact: ST-UOCAVAQues@pa.gov

College Students

Where to Register:

Your college residence (on or off campus), OR
Your family home address

Note: You can only register in one location

Voting Options:

Mail ballot sent to college or home address
In-person at your registered polling place

Emergency Situations

Emergency Absentee Ballot available for:

Unexpected illness or disability
Last-minute absence from municipality

Deadline: 8:00 PM on Election Day

Apply using Emergency Application for Absentee Ballot form

Guide 6: Voter Rights and Assistance

Your Legal Rights

Cannot be denied the right to vote based on race, ethnicity, national origin, or language
Your right to vote can only be challenged based on residency or identity
No one can intimidate or coerce you to vote a certain way
If in line by 8:00 PM, you can vote

Language Assistance

Available in Philadelphia:

Spanish materials
Traditional Chinese materials
Bilingual interpreters available

Statewide Hotline: 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772)

Interpretation in 200+ languages

Getting Help

Philadelphia Voters:

Phone: 215-686-VOTE (8683)
Website: vote.phila.gov
In-person: City Hall Room 142 or satellite offices

National Resources:

Election Protection Hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)

Provisional Ballots

You have the right to vote by provisional ballot if:

Your name isn’t in the poll book
You’re at the wrong polling place but believe you’re eligible there
You requested a mail ballot but didn’t receive it or lost it

County officials will verify eligibility before counting provisional ballots.

Problems at the Polls

Report Issues:

Alert the Judge of Elections at your polling place
File election complaint at dos.pa.gov
Contact county election office directly
Call 1-877-VOTESPA

Guide 7: Philadelphia-Specific Information

2025 Philadelphia Ballot

Citywide Races:

District Attorney
City Controller

Judicial Races:

PA Supreme Court Justice Retention (3 justices)
Judge of the Superior Court
Judge of the Commonwealth Court
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
Judge of the Municipal Court
Local Judge of Elections and Inspector of Elections

Note: Supreme Court retention elections have drawn significant attention and campaign spending this year.

Philadelphia Voting Locations

Main Office: City Hall, Room 142

Satellite Election Offices: 10 locations throughout the city

Find locations and hours at vote.phila.gov/seos

Services Available:

Voter registration (main office)
Mail ballot applications
Early in-person voting
Ballot drop-off

Philadelphia Drop Boxes

Official drop box locations available at vote.phila.gov/ballot-drop-off

Open through 8:00 PM on Election Day

Guide 8: After You Vote

When Will We Know Results?

Election Night: Media may declare winners in some races, but results are not final

Why It Takes Time:

Mail ballot processing doesn’t begin until 7:00 AM Election Day
Military and overseas ballots have 7 days to arrive
Provisional ballots require additional review
Voters have 6 days to provide ID if needed

Official Results Timeline:

County canvassing: Tuesday after election
County certification: Within 20 days after election
State certification: After county certification by Secretary of State Al Schmidt

Track Your Ballot

Check your mail ballot status at pavoterservices.pa.gov using the “Election Ballot Status” tool

If Your Ballot Has Issues

Some counties may contact you if there’s a problem with your ballot (missing signature, date, etc.). Respond immediately to ensure your vote counts.

Additional Resources

State Resources:

Philadelphia Resources:

City Commissioners
Phone: 215-686-VOTE (8683)

Help & Information:

State Hotline: 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772)
National Election Protection: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)

Forms & Applications:

All forms available in English, Spanish, and Traditional Chinese
Download at pavoterservices.pa.gov

This guide series is based on official Pennsylvania election information for the November 4, 2025 general election.