Vote Early and Make A Plan

This is a critically important election for public health and the environment. The stakes are unprecedented. We have all been watching in horror as many communities across our nation are confronting enormous, deadly wildfires, double hurricanes and superstorms, longer and more frequent heat waves, and catastrophic flooding. This year’s election truly will determine our planet’s future. It will determine whether we maintain even the possibility of preventing these disasters from getting worse. It is absolutely critical to elect candidates who believe environmental policies must be based on sound science.  Please take 5 minutes to make sure you have a plan to vote in the upcoming election in Pennsylvania or in whichever state you may be registered.

​Pennsylvania Deadlines

Monday, October 19, 2020: deadline to register to vote (you can register online or by mail).  ***If you are mailing your voter registration application, it must be received by your county election office on Oct. 19.  Applications merely postmarked by this date will not be accepted.***  You can always check your voter registration status online here.

Tuesday, October 27, 2020: deadline for your county to receive your application for a mail-in ballot (no excuse or reason required).  You can apply online or by mail, but your county must receive your application before 5:00 p.m. on Oct. 27.

Tuesday, November 3, 2020: Election day — vote in-person at your polling location between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.  If you are in line when the polls close, you are still entitled to vote.

***For voters who applied to vote by mail***  On September 17, the

Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that mail-in ballots postmarked by

November 3 will be counted if they are received by county election offices by

5:00 p.m. on November 6.  Regardless, you should return your completed mail-in

ballot as soon as possible.  Also be sure to place your mail-in ballot in the

secrecy envelope inside the mailing envelope.  The PA Supreme Court

ruled that “naked ballots” NOT placed inside the secrecy envelope when mailed

will NOT count.

Voting Tips

If you received your mail-in ballot, fill it out immediately, place it in the secrecy envelope inside the mailing envelope, and: 1) put it in the mail;  2) bring it back to your Board of Elections Office; or 3) place it in a secure ballot drop box located near you. Drop your mail-in ballots in a drop box no later than 8:00 p.m. on election day (November 3). Here is a current list of Philadelphia drop box locations.  Check your local county website for information on secure drop boxes.  If you are placing your mail-in ballot in the mail, do so as early as possible.  Per the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision on September 17, your vote will be counted if it is postmarked by election day (November 3) and is received by your county by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 6.

If you applied for a mail-in ballot but didn’t receive it, or if you lost or damaged it, you can still vote in-person using a paper provisional ballot at your local polling station. Be prepared for this potential outcome as many counties struggled to get all their mail-in ballots out to voters in the June 2020 primaries.  A provisional ballot still records your vote just the same as any other ballot.  It simply means the county has steps to take to determine your eligibility.

If you plan to vote in person, here are some tips we hope can help you stay safe at the polls:

• Polling places are open in every county until 8:00 p.m. Please note that some of them have been consolidated or relocated. Find your nearest open polling location, or contact your County Election Office for more information.
• Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth.
• Maintain social distance by staying 6 feet apart from poll workers and other voters while you are waiting in line, checking in, and voting.
• Follow instructions from poll workers, who are there to help things run smoothly.
• Be patient. This will be a new experience for everyone involved.

Click here to apply for a mail-in-ballot in Pennsylvania and safely vote from your home!  If you reside in another state, check your state’s official government website on vote-by-mail deadlines. 

You may have heard there’s a shortage of poll workers, who are usually older and more vulnerable to COVID-19. Fewer poll workers means longer lines and fewer polling stations on election day. Sign-up to be a poll worker and help our democracy: https://www.thevoterproject.com/