Your voting rights on Election Day in Pennsylvania

Poll hours and protection from intimidation

Pennsylvania polling places will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. for the Nov. 3 election. Voters who join the line by 8 p.m. are entitled to remain and cast a ballot.

State and federal law prohibit voter intimidation. Threats, interrogation and photographing or recording someone as an intimidation tactic can qualify. Voters who experience or witness intimidation can contact their county election office or call the Pennsylvania Department of State hotline at 1-877-VOTESPA, or 1-877-868-3772. The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General can investigate and prosecute complaints.

Identification and provisional ballots

Most Pennsylvania voters do not have to show identification at the polls. ID is required when someone is voting for the first time at a particular polling place.

Acceptable identification can include a Pennsylvania driver’s license, a state ID, a passport or another document bearing the voter’s name and address as listed on the registration record. A first-time voter without acceptable ID may leave to retrieve it and return, or request a provisional ballot.

Any voter can request a provisional ballot when poll workers raise a question about eligibility. The voter completes, seals, signs and dates it at the polling place and receives a receipt. County officials review the ballot after other ballots are counted, checking registration, Pennsylvania residency and whether the person already voted. The receipt’s identification number can be used to check whether the ballot was accepted.

Assistance and accessible voting

Voters who need help, including language or reading assistance, may bring a person they choose. That person cannot be the voter’s employer, union representative or the polling place’s judge of elections. A voter seeking assistance for the first time may need to complete a declaration and may also refuse help.

Every Pennsylvania polling place must have at least one accessible voting system. More details are included in this Pennsylvania voter-rights guide.