ABSENTEE_BALLOTS

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For a "one-stop" voter assistance toolkit,
type your zipcode in the blue box to the left and hit "go."

For background on PA's voter ID law, voter registration, absentee ballots, and military ballots, read on..

Voter ID Law
Starting with the November 2012 General Election, Pennsylvania law will require voters to show an acceptable photo ID to vote at the polls. Acceptable forms of ID must contain a name, a photo, and expiration date. Also starting with the November 2012 general election, PA law now requires voters to provide identification with an Application for Absentee Ballot except for qualified absentee voters in the U.S. military service and their dependents. For more information on acceptable forms of IDs, including government-issued IDs and absentee ballots, click here to go to PennDOT’s website. NOTE: The Voter ID law is being contested in court -- it was upheld in August 2012 but groups opposing the law have appealed that decision to the state Supreme Court, which will hear arguments on it on Sept. 13th. So, rules could change before the November 6, 2012 Election. Check back here for updated information. Meanwhile, to learn more about the facts behind the controversy, click here.

Register to Vote

In Pennsylvania you must be registered to vote 30 days prior to Election Day. Please print, complete and return the attached voter registration form if you would like to register to vote.

Absentee Voting
In Pennsylvania, absentee ballots are available to persons in the armed forces, their spouses and dependents, other citizens in federal service attached to the armed forces, persons absent from their municipality the entire time the polls are open on Election Day, those who cannot go to the polls because of illness or disability, county employees whose Election Day responsibilities prohibit them from going to the polls and persons who will not go to the polls because of the observation of a religious holiday.

If a voter thinks he or she MAY be away from their home municipality on Election Day, the voter can apply for an absentee ballot. With so much business travel arising at the last minute, it is wise to apply for the absentee and cast your ballot. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is the Tuesday that falls one week before Election Day. The ballot will be mailed to you by your county election bureau and must be completed and returned no later than the Friday before Election Day. If it turns out that the voter is present on Election Day, he or she can go to their polling place, cancel out their absentee ballot, and vote in person. PA absentee ballot application forms are being changed to reflect the new voter ID requirements. However, given the legal challenge to the law, completion of the new forms has been delayed. Check back for a link to a PA absentee ballot application form.

Military Voting
With absentee ballot voting for military families, the process can be complicated and confusing. But the Military Voter Protection Project (MVP Project) has a new initiative for military families called the Heroes Vote Initiative. This initiative hopes to get our service members and their families heard on Election Day.. For more information, click here to check out their website.


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RESOURCES FIND YOUR LEGISLATORS PA ROW OFFICERS GOVERNMENT 101 CONTACT LEGISLATORS TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE ELECTION INSIGHTS SIGN UP For a "one-stop" voter assistance toolkit, type your zipcode in the blue box to the left and hit "go." For background on PA's voter ID law, voter registration, absentee ballots, and military ballots, read on.. Voter ID Law Starting with the November 2012 General Election, Pennsylvania law will require voters to show an acceptable photo ID to vote at the polls. Acceptable forms of ID must contain a name, a photo, and expiration date. Also starting with the November 2012 general election, PA law now requires voters to provide identification with an Application for Absentee Ballot except for qualified absentee voters in the U.S. military service and their dependents. For more information on acceptable forms of IDs, including government-issued IDs and absentee ballots, click here to go to PennDOT’s website. NOTE: The Voter ID law is being contested in court -- it was upheld in August 2012 but groups opposing the law have appealed that decision to the state Supreme Court, which will hear arguments on it on Sept. 13th. So, rules could change before the November 6, 2012 Election. Check back here for updated information. Meanwhile, to learn more about the facts behind the controversy, click here. Register to Vote In Pennsylvania you must be registered to vote 30 days prior to Election Day. Please print, complete and return the attached voter registration form if you would like to register to vote. Absentee Voting In Pennsylvania, absentee ballots are available to persons in the armed forces, their spouses and dependents, other citizens in federal service attached to the armed forces, persons absent from their municipality the entire time the polls are open on Election Day, those who cannot go to the polls because of illness or disability, county employees whose Election Day responsibilities prohibit them from going to the polls and persons who will not go to the polls because of the observation of a religious holiday. If a voter thinks he or she MAY be away from their home municipality on Election Day, *the voter can apply for an absentee ballot. With so much business travel arising at the last minute, it is wise to apply for the absentee and cast your ballot. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is the Tuesday that falls one week before Election Day. The ballot will be mailed to you by your county election bureau and must be completed and returned no later than the Friday before Election Day. If it turns out that the voter is present on Election Day, he or she can go to their polling place, cancel out their absentee ballot, and vote in person. PA absentee ballot application forms are being changed to reflect the new voter ID requirements. However, given the legal challenge to the law, completion of the new forms has been delayed. Check back for a link to a PA absentee ballot application form. Military Voting* With absentee ballot voting for military families, the process can be complicated and confusing. But the Military Voter Protection Project (MVP Project) has a new initiative for military families called the Heroes Vote Initiative. This initiative hopes to get our service members and their families heard on Election Day.. For more information, click here to check out their website.