What to know ahead of voting

It’s Election Day in Pennsylvania, and voters — whether they already cast their ballot by mail or are headed to the polls today — will pick their party’s nominee for four statewide appellate court seats, decide between candidates vying for local and citywide races, and in the 163rd and 108th House districts, voters will decide who fills two state House seats in two special elections.

Here’s what you need to know before casting your vote:

When do polls open?

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. If you’re in line before 8 p.m., you can still vote.

How do I find my polling place?

Find your polling place online by entering your address or contacting your local election office.

Do I need to bring anything with me to vote?

If you’ve voted at your polling place before, you do not need to bring an ID to cast your ballot.

First-time voters or voters whose polling location has changed must show valid identification, including:

• Driver’s license
• Military, student, or employee ID
• Voter registration card
• Firearm permit
• Current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government check
• Any ID issued by the commonwealth or federal government

Identification without a photo must have your name and address on it.

You can find the complete list of acceptable identification online.

I applied for a mail-in ballot. Can I vote in person instead?

If you applied for a mail-in ballot but want to vote in person, you may as long as you haven’t cast your mail-in ballot.

Voters who want to vote at the polls are asked to hold on to their mail-in ballot and return envelope; bring them to their polling place on Election Day. Poll workers will ask you to sign a declaration saying you did not yet vote, and you will surrender the mail-in ballot. If you lose or forget the mail-in ballot, you may vote by provisional ballot on Election Day.

What is a provisional ballot?

A provisional ballot is a paper ballot given to voters who believe to be registered but whose names are not in the sign-in book at their polling place.

If you are a first-time voter who does not provide an ID at the polls on Election Day, you will be offered a provisional ballot.

Need to report an issue or get more information?

The Pennsylvania Department of State offers a hotline: 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772).