Pennsylvania 2026 Primary election: Voters guide to cast ballot

Pennsylvanians will be gearing up and getting ready to cast their votes during the Primary Election on May 19, 2026. In preparation for the election, Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 has put together the perfect guide to help you know what to expect and what you should know before hitting the election polls. POLLS OPEN: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.Democratic voters will pick their nominees to flip four seats seen as critical for the party to retake the U.S. House in November.Republicans hold a slim House majority, and just a handful of seats could determine whether they continue to control the chamber next year. Democrats see four competitive Republican-held districts in Pennsylvania as among their top pick-up opportunities.Half of Pennsylvania’s 50 state Senate seats and all 203 state House seats are up for election in November. Democrats hold a slim majority in the state House, while Republicans have an edge in the state Senate. WHAT ARE PRIMARY ELECTIONS? Primary elections in Pennsylvania, according to the state’s official government website, are held on the third Tuesday in May in most years. During presidential election years, a primary election is held on the fourth Tuesday of April. In this type of election, Democratic and Republican voters select the candidates who they want to represent their respective parties during the November general election. Republican voters can only vote for Republican candidates, and Democratic voters can only vote for Democratic candidates. This is because Pennsylvania has a closed primary system. While voting in a primary election for party nominees is limited to only voters registered as Democratic or Republican, all registered voters can vote in a primary election if the ballot includes any of the following: a constitutional amendment question, a ballot question, or a special election in their district.The candidate for each party that receives the most votes will go on to run in the general election. For more information on the types of elections in Pennsylvania, visit the state’s government website here. As of May 11, there are currently 9 million registered voters in Pennsylvania. Registered Democrats outnumbered registered Republicans, 3.8 million to 3.6 million. About 1.2 million were not registered with any party.Roughly 1.1 million Democratic primary votes and about 953,000 Republican primary votes were cast in the 2024 presidential primaries, held long after Trump and President Joe Biden had clinched their nominations.In the more competitive U.S. Senate primaries in 2022, Republican and Democratic voters each cast roughly 1.3 million votes.HOW DO I KNOW I AM ELIGIBLE TO VOTE?To register to vote in Pennsylvania, you must be a citizen of the United States or be a citizen one month before the next primary, special, municipal, or general election.Officials said you at least have to register to vote in the state 15 days before the next election, the state’s government website says.In addition, you must reside in the election district in which you want to register and vote at least 30 days before the next primary, special, municipal, or general election.Furthermore, you must be at least 18 years old on or before the election to vote.When you register, you must do so with the address where you currently live. If you recently moved, you can register or update your voter registration information online.THE MUST-KNOWS FOR VOTING IN-PERSON If you are taking to the polls, Action News 4 has you covered in what you need to know when you arrive at your designated precinct. Watch the video below to see the times you can vote and what you may need to bring with you to cast your vote at your local precinct. VIDEO: Voting in-person on primary election day in Pennsylvania In Pennsylvania, you only need to bring your identification if it is your first time at a new polling place.The following are approved forms of photo identification to vote:Pennsylvania driver’s license or PennDOT ID cardID issued by any commonwealth agencyID issued by the U.S. governmentU.S. passportU.S. armed forces IDStudent IDEmployee IDYou do not need photo identification to vote. Pennsylvania also has a list of approved non-photo forms of identification that can be used:Confirmation or voter registration card issued by your county elections officeNonphoto ID issued by the commonwealthNonphoto ID issued by the federal governmentFirearm permitCurrent utility billCurrent bank statementCurrent paycheckGovernment check For additional information on the requirements to vote and to see a full list of what you may need to bring if you’re a new voter, visit the following links: FIRST TIME VOTERS IN PENNSYLVANIA FIND YOUR POLLING PLACE WHAT IF I MISS THE DEADLINE FOR A MAIL-IN OR ABSENTEE BALLOT? By 8 p.m. on election night (May 19, 2026), your county election office MUST receive your mail-in ballot. If you missed the deadline due to an emergency or last-minute absence from your municipality, you may still be able to obtain a mail ballot after the May 12 deadline. For additional information on the process of mail-in and absentee ballots, visit the following links: MAIL-IN AND ABSENTEE BALLOTS CONTACT YOUR COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUSEMERGENCY ABSENTEE BALLOT ISSUES AT THE POLLS? The Department of State urges voters to call 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772) if you experience a problem at the polls.The problems listed by the state include:If you suspect voting rules are being violated, report it to alert the Judge of Elections at your polling location. You can also report it to the Department through our election complaint form or contact your county election office directly.If you need help voting or cannot use the voting system because of a disability, ask the poll workers at your polling location about accessible voting options.If you need help voting or using the voting system because of your ability to speak or read English, you may have language support.If a poll worker determines you are not eligible to vote on the county’s voting system, you may ask to vote a provisional ballot. Your county’s elections officials will later determine if your provisional ballot can be counted.The Associated Press has contributed to this article. Download the WTAE app to stay connected with everything you need to know for the May 2026 primary election in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our email newsletters to get election coverage updates in your inbox.

Pennsylvanians will be gearing up and getting ready to cast their votes during the Primary Election on May 19, 2026.

In preparation for the election, Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 has put together the perfect guide to help you know what to expect and what you should know before hitting the election polls.

POLLS OPEN: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Democratic voters will pick their nominees to flip four seats seen as critical for the party to retake the U.S. House in November.

Republicans hold a slim House majority, and just a handful of seats could determine whether they continue to control the chamber next year. Democrats see four competitive Republican-held districts in Pennsylvania as among their top pick-up opportunities.

Half of Pennsylvania’s 50 state Senate seats and all 203 state House seats are up for election in November. Democrats hold a slim majority in the state House, while Republicans have an edge in the state Senate.

WHAT ARE PRIMARY ELECTIONS?

Primary elections in Pennsylvania, according to the state’s official government website, are held on the third Tuesday in May in most years.

During presidential election years, a primary election is held on the fourth Tuesday of April.

In this type of election, Democratic and Republican voters select the candidates who they want to represent their respective parties during the November general election.

Republican voters can only vote for Republican candidates, and Democratic voters can only vote for Democratic candidates. This is because Pennsylvania has a closed primary system.

While voting in a primary election for party nominees is limited to only voters registered as Democratic or Republican, all registered voters can vote in a primary election if the ballot includes any of the following:

a constitutional amendment question, a ballot question, or a special election in their district.

The candidate for each party that receives the most votes will go on to run in the general election.

For more information on the types of elections in Pennsylvania, visit the state’s government website here.

As of May 11, there are currently 9 million registered voters in Pennsylvania.

Registered Democrats outnumbered registered Republicans, 3.8 million to 3.6 million. About 1.2 million were not registered with any party.

Roughly 1.1 million Democratic primary votes and about 953,000 Republican primary votes were cast in the 2024 presidential primaries, held long after Trump and President Joe Biden had clinched their nominations.

In the more competitive U.S. Senate primaries in 2022, Republican and Democratic voters each cast roughly 1.3 million votes.

HOW DO I KNOW I AM ELIGIBLE TO VOTE?

To register to vote in Pennsylvania, you must be a citizen of the United States or be a citizen one month before the next primary, special, municipal, or general election.

Officials said you at least have to register to vote in the state 15 days before the next election, the state’s government website says.

In addition, you must reside in the election district in which you want to register and vote at least 30 days before the next primary, special, municipal, or general election.

Furthermore, you must be at least 18 years old on or before the election to vote.

When you register, you must do so with the address where you currently live. If you recently moved, you can register or update your voter registration information online.

THE MUST-KNOWS FOR VOTING IN-PERSON

If you are taking to the polls, Action News 4 has you covered in what you need to know when you arrive at your designated precinct.

Watch the video below to see the times you can vote and what you may need to bring with you to cast your vote at your local precinct.

VIDEO: Voting in-person on primary election day in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, you only need to bring your identification if it is your first time at a new polling place.

The following are approved forms of photo identification to vote:

Pennsylvania driver’s license or PennDOT ID cardID issued by any commonwealth agencyID issued by the U.S. governmentU.S. passportU.S. armed forces IDStudent IDEmployee ID

You do not need photo identification to vote. Pennsylvania also has a list of approved non-photo forms of identification that can be used:

Confirmation or voter registration card issued by your county elections officeNonphoto ID issued by the commonwealthNonphoto ID issued by the federal governmentFirearm permitCurrent utility billCurrent bank statementCurrent paycheckGovernment check

For additional information on the requirements to vote and to see a full list of what you may need to bring if you’re a new voter, visit the following links:

WHAT IF I MISS THE DEADLINE FOR A MAIL-IN OR ABSENTEE BALLOT?

By 8 p.m. on election night (May 19, 2026), your county election office MUST receive your mail-in ballot.

If you missed the deadline due to an emergency or last-minute absence from your municipality, you may still be able to obtain a mail ballot after the May 12 deadline.

For additional information on the process of mail-in and absentee ballots, visit the following links:

ISSUES AT THE POLLS?

The Department of State urges voters to call 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772) if you experience a problem at the polls.

The problems listed by the state include:

If you suspect voting rules are being violated, report it to alert the Judge of Elections at your polling location. You can also report it to the Department through our election complaint form or contact your county election office directly.If you need help voting or cannot use the voting system because of a disability, ask the poll workers at your polling location about accessible voting options.If you need help voting or using the voting system because of your ability to speak or read English, you may have language support.If a poll worker determines you are not eligible to vote on the county’s voting system, you may ask to vote a provisional ballot. Your county’s elections officials will later determine if your provisional ballot can be counted.

The Associated Press has contributed to this article.

Download the WTAE app to stay connected with everything you need to know for the May 2026 primary election in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our email newsletters to get election coverage updates in your inbox.