HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s 2026 election is here.
Voters will cast ballots in races for governor, Pennsylvania House, and U.S. House. In some parts of the state, there will also be local ballot questions and races for the Pennsylvania Senate.
Check your county’s election website to find a sample ballot.
Here are answers to some of your most frequently asked questions:
Today! Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. As long as you are in line to vote by 8 p.m., you are entitled to cast a ballot.
You can find your polling location on the Pennsylvania Department of State website.
You can check your voter registration online. Search using your name, county, ZIP code, and birthday, or by entering your driver’s license or PennDOT identification card number.
No: Oct. 19 was the deadline to register to vote in this election.
Yes! A voter is marked inactive if they have not voted for two consecutive federal election cycles and haven’t responded to a county notice about their registration.
If that’s your status, you can still vote on Nov. 3. You’ll just have to sign a form confirming your eligibility when you visit your polling place.
If you moved within Pennsylvania less than 30 days before the election, you have to vote at the polling place for your old address.
If you moved within the state more than 30 days ago but haven’t updated your registration, you can vote at the polling place for your old address for one election.
If you have specifically moved from one county to another, you must fill out a form at your polling place with your new address and county. This will allow officials to update your voter registration in both counties after the election. Once they do that, you will get a new voter registration card matching your new address.
Read more in the “If you move” section of the Pennsylvania Department of State’s website.
If this is your first time voting or your first time voting since changing addresses, you’ll need to bring proof of identification. This can include any government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or U.S. passport, a utility bill or bank statement that includes your name and address, or a military or student ID. See the full list of options here.
You can check the status of your mail ballot online.
Your county must receive your ballot by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Do not put your ballot in the mail since it will not arrive by the deadline.
Instead, drop it off at your county election office or at a satellite location or drop box, if your county offers those options. See a full list of ballot drop-off locations.
Follow all the instructions to make sure your ballot is counted.
If you have not received your mail ballot, you can still vote in person at your polling location.
A poll worker will offer you a provisional ballot, which will be counted after election officials confirm you did not submit a mail ballot.
Bring all your mail ballot components, including the envelopes, to your polling place and turn them over to poll workers. You’ll be required to sign a form declaring that you haven’t voted by mail. After that, you should be allowed to vote at the precinct.
Read Spotlight PA’s complete coverage, including candidate and election guides, at our 2026 Election Center.
A complete listing of Spotlight PA voter guides and coverage:
Everything you need to know about requesting, filling out, and returning your mail ballot
Where Mackenzie, Brooks stand on tax policies, affordability, and jobs
Where Bresnahan, Cognetti stand on tax policies, affordability, and jobs
Where Perry, Stelson stand on tax policies, affordability, and jobs
Where governor candidates Garrity and Shapiro stand on abortion
Where governor candidates Garrity and Shapiro stand on data centers
Where governor candidates Garrity and Shapiro stand on marijuana, hemp, and more
Where governor candidates Garrity and Shapiro stand on energy costs, the environment, and more
Where governor candidates Garrity and Shapiro stand on elections
Where governor candidates Garrity and Shapiro stand on Medicaid, fraud, and more
Where governor candidates Garrity and Shapiro stand on LGBTQ rights
Where Garrity, Shapiro stand on public school funding, vouchers, and other education issues
Where Garrity, Shapiro stand on ICE detention and other immigration issues
Where Garrity, Shapiro stand on taxes, spending, skill games, and more
En Español:
Elecciones 2026 en Pa.: Su guía completa de los candidatos a gobernador
Elecciones 2026 en Pa.: Cómo convertirse en trabajador electoral el 3 de noviembre
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