Here’s what Pennsylvania voters need to know ahead of Election Day 2024

PHILADELPHIA — Presidential elections bring the largest number of voters to the polls, so having a plan can help avoid long lines, prevent errors and help fellow voters.

All polling places in Pennsylvania are open on Election Day, November 5, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Anyone who gets in line before 8 p.m. will be able to vote.

Here are five steps to prepare to vote in person.

Step 1: Check your voter registration

Pennsylvania voters can check their registration online by entering their name, Pennsylvania driver’s license or PennDOT ID number, or by phone by calling their county elections office.

Find the online tool here at PA.gov.

The deadline to register to vote passed on October 21, so anyone not currently registered will not be able to vote.

If you are an inactive voter, meaning someone who has not voted in two federal elections, you will have to fill out a form with the elections office to reactivate your registration. You may have to show identification, but you will be able to vote as usual.

Step 2: Confirm your polling station

Polling places sometimes change, so it’s important to double-check that you know where you’re going.

Greg Monsky, York County’s chief operating officer and chief clerk, said there are many reasons for the change in polling locations.

2024 Voter Guide: Here’s what you need to know ahead of Election Day in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

“It could be that whoever is organizing the polling place decides not to do so, there could be a conflict that could arise on Election Day,” Monsky said. “We will periodically make changes to polling places if we do not believe they are large enough to accommodate the number of voters we expect, especially in presidential elections.”

He said voters affected by the changes should have received a letter in the mail notifying them of the new polling location.

The State Department has an online resource where voters can enter their address to find a polling place.

Find it here on PA.gov.

Step 3: Schedule a time to vote

Presidential elections typically attract the largest number of voters. Polling stations are open on November 5 from 7:00 to 20:00.

The busiest times are usually in the morning, around lunchtime and after work.

Voting mid-morning or mid-afternoon, when lines are typically shortest, helps voters avoid lines and reduces wait times for those who have to show up during peak hours.

Step 4: Know what to pack

Some voters may need to bring additional identification with them to vote.

Anyone voting at a polling station for the first time must show identification.

This may include a driver’s license or PennDOT ID card, state or federal government ID, US passport, US military ID, student ID, employee ID, county Voter Registration Office endorsement, or firearms permit. or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government check that shows your name and address.

If a voter cannot provide identification, they will be able to vote with a provisional ballot. Once the county confirms they are eligible to vote, the ballots will be counted.

Step 5: Voting

Research the candidates who will be on your ballot and put your plan into action.

Voters can bring notes or use their phones while filling out the ballot.

Requested a mail-in ballot but want to vote in person?

Those who have requested a mail-in ballot can still vote in person, but with some additional hurdles.

These voters will need to bring their ballot and return envelope to their polling place, return their ballot and fill out some paperwork, and then vote in person. The process will take a few extra minutes, depending on how crowded the polling station is.

Potential voters who do not return a mail ballot and envelope may only vote temporarily at their polling place. Before the provisional vote is counted, the county board of elections will verify that the person did not vote by mail.

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This story is part of an explanatory series on Pennsylvania elections produced jointly by WITF Harrisburg and The Associated Press.