What you need to know about mail-in ballots for the 2022 Elections

City of Philadelphia

https://

The https:// in the address bar means your information is encrypted and can not be accessed by anyone else

.gov

Only government entities in the U.S. can end in .gov

For the most up-to-date information on Act 77 visit the Pennsylvania Department of State website.

For the PA Primary scheduled for May 17, voters can request a mail-in or absentee ballot online or via regular mail. The application must be received by the Office of Philadelphia Commissioners by May 10, 2022, at 5 p.m.

What is Act 77 and how does it affect me?

Act 77 allows voters in Pennsylvania to choose to vote by mail if they want to, this is called no-excuse mail-in voting. This means you don’t need to provide a reason to vote by mail (such as being out of the country during an election). Instead, Act 77 allows any Pennsylvanian who wants to vote by mail to do so. If you’ve requested a mail-in ballot in a recent election, it was likely that Act 77 allowed you to.

Recently, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled that no-excuse mail-in voting should not be allowed, but because of the immediate appeal that was taken, we still expect you will be able to vote by mail in this upcoming election. The Pennsylvania Department of State has appealed this court decision to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and will provide updates as the case proceeds.

Can I vote by mail in the upcoming election?

Yes. Voting by mail is still a safe, secure, and legal way to cast your ballot and make your voice heard. Registered voters who request a mail-in ballot can still plan to vote by mail in the upcoming election.

I just received my annual mail-in ballot application in the mail. What should I do?

It’s up to you! Mail-in voting is still happening. The permanent absentee and mail-in applications (which allow you to sign up to receive a mail-in ballot for all elections in 2022) are currently being mailed to anyone who requested to be on the list. You can also still request a mail-in ballot for the upcoming election.

The Philadelphia City Commissioners will still process mail-in applications. If you’d like to vote by mail, you should apply online and return your application as soon as possible.

If you’d prefer to vote in-person in the upcoming election, then make sure to look up your polling place location and make a plan to vote on May 17, 2022.