Why vote?
The November 3 election will be a big one! In addition to choosing the next president, Pennsylvania voters will fill:
- All 18 Pennsylvania seats in the U.S. House of Representatives;
- All 203 seats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives;
- Odd-numbered districts in the 50-seat Pennsylvania Senate; and
- Offices of Attorney General, Auditor General and Treasurer of Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia voters will see four ballot questions:
- Eliminating unconstitutional stop and frisk;
- Creating an Office of the Victim Advocate;
- Creating a Citizens Police Oversight Commission;
- Authorizing the City to borrow $134 million for transit, streets and sanitation, municipal buildings, parks and other expenses.
Are you registered to vote?
To vote in Pennsylvania you must be registered. Check to see if you’re registered by calling 877-VOTESPA, or going to VotesPA.com. People in prison or convicted of a crime may still be able to vote. Learn more here.
How to register
To vote in the next election you must complete your application by October 19.
- Register online here
- Register on paper — Download and print a paper form here, or pick up a form at an election office. Libraries, the Department of Motor Vehicles, other government offices and even state liquor stores may have registration forms. Mail or deliver your completed form to your county voter registration office, to be received by October 19. In Philadelphia, send it to:
Voter Registration
520 N Columbus Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19123
How to vote
- In person on Election Day (November 3) — Go to your polling place from 7 AM to 8 PM. If you need transportation, Lyft is offering 50% off one ride, up to $10, to any polling location on Election Day, using the code 2020VOTE*. Or, receive $10 off of 2 Uber trips to and from polling locations in Philly using this voucher code. Voucher expires November 3 at midnight, while supplies last.
NOTE: If you applied to vote by mail, but choose to vote in a voting booth on Election Day, you still must bring your mail-in ballot along with you to your polling place. That ballot must be handed to a poll worker before you enter the polling booth. - In person before Election Day —There are many new satellite elections offices across Philadelphia. Until October 27 at 5 PM, registered voters can request, receive, fill out, and submit a mail ballot all in one stop at these elections offices. After October 27, you can still drop off your completed mail ballot. Make sure to seal it inside both envelopes and to sign the outside envelope!
- By mail — Registered voters can request a mail-in ballot at VotesPA.com. The deadline to apply to get a mail ballot is 5 PM on October 27. You will get your ballot in the mail, and it needs to be filled out and mailed in two envelopes with a postmark prior to 8 PM on Election Day, November 3.
Because of questions about mail service, NKCDC recommends that you turn in your completed mail ballot at an election office before Election Day, or hand it to the Judge of Elections at your polling place on Election Day.
You can follow the status of your ballot by using this tracker.
Become a Poll Worker
Want to take an extra step to support democracy? Poll workers are essential to ensuring elections run smoothly, and Philadelphia needs more volunteers for this year’s election. Sign up here.
Poll workers generally work for the entire day on Election Day, from before the time the polls open at 7:00 AM, until after the polls close at 8:00 PM. Volunteers receive a stipend for their work. You must be registered to vote in Philadelphia County in order to become a poll worker in the city. Government officials and government employees are not eligible to serve.
Questions?
For more information, please call 877-VOTESPA, or visit VotesPA.com.