Pennsylvania’s 2026 primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19. The deadline to register to vote is Monday, May 4, and the deadline to apply for a mail or absentee ballot is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12.
Completed mail and civilian absentee ballots must be received by county boards of elections by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Postmarks do not count. Military and overseas absentee ballots must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 18, though county election offices have until Tuesday, May 26, to receive them.
Who Can Vote and What a Closed Primary Means
Pennsylvania operates under a closed primary system, meaning only registered Democrats and Republicans may vote for their party’s nominees. Unaffiliated and independent voters may only participate if their district’s ballot includes a constitutional amendment question, a ballot question, or a special election.
To be eligible, a person must be a U.S. citizen for at least 30 days before the election, a Pennsylvania resident, and at least 18 years old on or before Election Day. People incarcerated for felony convictions cannot vote under state law, but those serving time for misdemeanors or on probation, parole, or house arrest are eligible, unless the misdemeanor conviction involved a violation of the Pennsylvania election code. Anyone convicted of a felony who has been released, or will be released before the next election, is also eligible.
Voters who want to change their party affiliation to take part in the primary must do so by May 4. The change can be made online, by mail, or in person using the Pennsylvania voter registration application form by selecting the “Change of Party” box.
How to Register Before May 4
Voters can check their registration status by calling the Philadelphia City Commissioners at 215-686-1590 or through the Pennsylvania Department of State website. Registration can be completed online at the state voter services page.
In-person registration is available at the Board of Elections office in City Hall, Room 140; at the Voter Registration Office at 520 N. Columbus Blvd. at Spring Garden Street; or at any of Philadelphia’s 10 satellite election offices, which are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.
Paper applications are available at post offices, public libraries, state liquor stores, and state government offices, and are offered in multiple languages. Voters may also register at a PennDOT photo license center when obtaining or renewing a driver’s license. Additional information for people with criminal records is on the City Commissioners’ registration page.
Applying for and Returning a Mail Ballot
Any registered voter in Pennsylvania may vote by mail. Applications can be submitted online to have a ballot sent to a home address, or in person at the City Hall office, the Columbus Boulevard office, or any satellite election office.
Once ballots are printed, voters may go to an election office, apply, fill out the ballot, and return it on the spot in one visit. Early in-person voting by mail ballot is available through 8 p.m. on Election Day, as long as the voter applies before the 5 p.m. May 12 cutoff.
Completed mail ballots cannot be dropped off at a polling place and must be returned by mail, at an election office, or in a county-designated secure drop box. Official drop-box locations for Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, as well as Philadelphia, will be available online once finalized. Voters can track whether their mail ballot has been processed through the state’s voter services website.
Absentee Ballots and Provisional Voting
An absentee ballot differs from a standard mail ballot and is reserved for voters who will be out of town on Election Day, have an illness or physical disability preventing them from going to the polls, are members of the armed forces, or have religious obligations. A valid reason must be provided when applying.
Voters who received a mail or absentee ballot but choose to vote in person must bring the ballot and its pre-addressed outer return envelope to their polling place, surrender both, and sign a declaration before receiving a regular ballot. Voters who requested a mail ballot but never received it may vote by provisional ballot at their polling place; those ballots are reviewed by the county board of elections after Election Day.
The Envelope Date Requirement and Its Legal Status
Pennsylvania law requires mail voters to handwrite the date they completed their ballot in a designated space on the back of the return envelope. A ballot missing that date can be rejected without being counted.
A federal court ruled last August that the requirement is unconstitutional, and the state Supreme Court heard arguments on the matter in September. The Republican National Committee and a group of states have since asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate it. Voters are still being asked to write the date while the legal question remains unresolved.
As Election Day approaches, a list of voters whose mail ballots are flagged for problems, such as a missing handwritten date or a missing security envelope, will be published along with instructions on how to fix those issues so votes can be counted.
The Philadelphia Congressional Race
The most closely watched contest in Philadelphia is the Democratic primary to succeed retiring Congressman Dwight Evans in the 3rd Congressional District. Because no Republican is running in the 3rd District, the winner of the Democratic primary is expected to win the November general election.
Pennsylvania’s Role in the U.S. House Balance
Republicans currently control the U.S. House by a 217-to-214 margin over Democrats, with independent Rep. Kevin Kiley of California caucusing with Republicans and three seats currently vacant. Pennsylvania has more highly competitive House races than any other state and is expected to play a substantial role in determining which party controls the chamber.
All but one of Pennsylvania’s 17 U.S. House representatives are running for reelection. Closely watched contests include the 1st Congressional District, covering all of Bucks County and a sliver of Montgomery County; the 7th District in the Lehigh Valley; and the 10th District, representing Harrisburg and York.
Statewide and Legislative Races
The gubernatorial primary features Democrat Josh Shapiro and Republican Stacy Garrity. In the lieutenant governor race, Democrat Austin Davis is running unopposed on his side, while Republicans will choose between Jason Richey and John Ventre.
Also on the ballot are mostly uncontested primaries for other congressional seats and all state Assembly seats, along with races for Democratic and Republican state committee members and local party ward committees. Contested Senate primaries are taking place in the 4th, 8th, 16th, 20th, 22nd, 32nd, 34th, 36th, 42nd, 46th, and 48th senatorial districts. In the Philadelphia region, contested state House primaries are in the 185th, 195th, and 200th legislative districts. Philadelphia voters will also weigh in on one ballot question. The full candidate list is on the City Commissioners’ website.
Voting in Person on May 19
Voters casting ballots at the polls on Election Day can find their polling place through a searchable map on the City Commissioners’ website, where sample ballots with candidate names will also be posted once available. The City Commissioners are accepting sign-ups from people interested in serving as poll workers.
