Information about Vote-By-Mail
Thanks to a new law passed in 2019, Pennsylvania now has no-excuse mail-in voting. That means you can get your ballot mailed to your home -- no need to go to your polling place. For more information about Pennsylvania’s Act 77, visit www.vote.pa.gov.
your frequently asked questions:
Q: When is my application due?
A: The deadline to apply to vote by mail is one week before the election. However, we strongly encourage you to request your mail-in ballot ASAP — it can take a while to process at the county, and you'll need time to vote once you get your ballot.
Q: Where is my mail-in ballot?
A: The majority of ballots have already been mailed out in Delaware County. You can track the status of your ballot here — your ballot may have been delayed because of slow downs with the mail.
Q: How do I return my mail-in ballot?
A: You can return your mail-in ballot via the mail (postage is pre-paid!). The USPS recommends mailing your ballot back two weeks before Election Day to allow enough time for it to be received. You can also take your ballot to the nearest secure drop box. You can find a full list of drop boxes at delcopa.gov/vote.
Q: What if something goes wrong with my request, or I made a mistake?
A: In these cases, we suggest contacting your county's Bureau of Elections (for Delaware, the number is 610-891-4120). They'll be able to help sort out any issues with your ballot.
Q: I made a mistake in filling out my ballot. What should I do?
A: If you made a mistake in filling out the outside envelope (the voter declaration), visit the Board of Elections in Media (201 W Front St). You’ll be able to correct the outside envelope of your ballot.
Q: Why are there two types of ballots (mail-in and absentee)?
A: Absentee ballots are required by the Pennsylvania Constitution to make sure everyone has access to the ballot box regardless of physical ability to get to the polls on Election Day. Mail-in voting is an additional option -- it's for those of us who could go to our polling place but would prefer to vote from home.
Q: How can I return my ballot?
A: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled to allow drop boxes to be used. You can find a list of approved ballot drop boxes here, once the list has been finalized. Additionally, you can return your ballot to the Bureau of Elections, 201 W. Front St., Media, PA. There are NOT drop boxes at the polling places.
Q: If I already applied for a mail-in ballot, do I have to apply again?
A: It depends. You will need to re-apply ever year, but you can apply for ballots for all elections at once. You can check your ballot application status here — this will show which elections you have requested a mail-in ballot for.
Q: I requested a mail-in ballot but now I want to vote in person. What should I do?
A: You have two options: you can bring your mail-in ballot (with all the envelopes that it came with) to your polling place on Election Day, have it “voided” by the Judge of Elections, and vote in person using a regular (not provisional) ballot. Note that this process could take up to an hour. You can also utilize the in-person early-voting option at the Voter Service Centers to fill out your ballot on-the-spot and make sure it is recorded.
HOW TO: Request a Mail-in Ballot
This process takes about two minutes, but it can be complicated, so we're going to walk you through step-by-step instructions on how to request your mail-in ballot.
If you have a valid Pennsylvania driver's license or photo ID: you can apply for your mail-in ballot online at www.votespa.com/ApplyMailBallot. You'll be asked three questions: are you a military or overseas voter, will you be absent from your home on the date of the election, and do you have an illness or physical disability. This is to determine whether a mail-in or absentee ballot is right for you. If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, you will be directed to apply for an absentee ballot. If you answer "no" to all, you will be able to apply for a mail-in ballot.
Once you've answered these questions, you'll be taken to the online form to request your mail-in ballot. Fill in your name, date of birth, PennDOT ID number, address, and where you'd like your ballot mailed.
You'll then be asked if you want to apply for an annual mail-in ballot.
If you check yes, you'll be sent a separate application to apply for a mail-in ballot for every election this year. You'll also automatically be sent an application to apply for mail-in ballots every year. If you do not check yes, you will only receive a mail-in ballot for this election.
If you are a registered voter in Pennsylvania but do not have a valid Pennsylvania driver's license or photo ID: you'll need to mail your request form to your county's Bureau of Elections (for Delaware County, that's 201 W. Front Street, Media, PA 19063). You can download the mail-in ballot request form here, fill it out following the steps above, and then mail it to the Bureau of Elections.
Once you've completed these steps, you're done! You can track the status of your application here to see whether your ballot has been mailed. Once your ballot arrives, please fill it out and return it to the Bureau of Elections (by mail or in person) as soon as possible — it can take a while for your ballot to arrive and we want to make sure your vote is counted.