The crucial 2026 midterm elections are fast approaching, and there are some key deadlines Pennsylvania and Lehigh Valley voters should be aware of before heading to the polls Nov. 3.
The first of those deadlines is Oct. 19, the last day to register to vote. It’s also the last day to change your voter registration, should you want to update your address or make any other changes.
You can check the status of your registration on the Department of State Voting FAQ page.
Here’s what else you need to know about the upcoming election.
When is Election Day?
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
How do I register to vote?
The deadline to register to vote or make changes to your registration is 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19. You can check your registration status at vote.pa.gov, or at your local election office.
In Lehigh County, voter registration is available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday at the Lehigh County Voter Registration Office, 17 S. Seventh St., Allentown.
In Northampton County, the voter registration office is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays in the lower level of the main courthouse, 669 Washington St., Easton.
(Note: Both offices will be closed Monday, Oct. 12, in observance of Columbus Day.)
Voter registration is also available at county assistance offices; Women, Infants & Children program offices; PennDOT photo and drivers’ license centers; Armed Forces recruitment centers; county clerk of orphans’ courts or marriage license offices; area agencies on aging; county mental health and intellectual disabilities offices; student disability services offices of the State System of Higher Education; offices of special education in high schools; and Americans with Disabilities Act-mandated complementary paratransit providers.
Where can I vote?
Northampton County residents can check their polling place at NorthamptonVotes.com.
In Lehigh County, check your polling place at lehighcounty.org/Departments/Voter-Registration/Polling-Places.
Can I vote early?
While Pennsylvania does not have traditional in-person early voting, it does allow on-demand mail ballot voting, in which you can apply for, fill out and return your mail ballot in one visit to your county election office.
In Northampton County, mail ballots on demand are available at the Northampton County Elections Office from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. On demand voting will be available until 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, which is the deadline to apply for mail ballots.
In Lehigh County, mail ballots on demand will be available during normal business hours at the Lehigh County Voter Registration office, 17 S. Seventh St., Allentown. The county had not begun accepting mail ballots on demand as of Tuesday.
You must bring a valid ID with you to the Elections Office to receive a ballot. Registered voters who have already applied for a mail-in ballot are not eligible for on-demand mail ballot voting.
Voting by mail
All registered Pennsylvania voters have the option to vote by mail for any reason; ballots can be requested online at vote.pa.gov or in person at the counties’ election offices.
Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Oct. 27.
Voted mail ballots must be received by county election offices, either by mail or in person, by 8 p.m. on election day. Postmarks do not count.
Ballots must be signed, dated and inserted into included security envelopes before being placed in the return envelopes.
Voters must drop off their own mail ballots unless a certification has been signed giving that task to someone else due to disability or another reason.
If you’ve received a mail ballot but decide to vote in person, bring your incomplete mail ballot to the polling place and you’ll be able to vote. If you don’t bring your mail ballot, you should still be allowed to vote in person by provisional ballot.
If you applied for a ballot but never received one, or your mail ballot was not accepted, you can go to your polling place and vote by provisional ballot.
Where can I drop off my mail ballot?
Mail ballots can be dropped off at the county board of elections by 8 p.m. on election day. You can find a list of ballot boxes at NorthamptonVotes.com or lehighcounty.org/Departments/Voter-Registration.
Make sure you follow all directions printed on the mail ballot, and only drop off your ballot. If you are unable to drop off your ballot, you can fill out a Certificate of Designated Agent form, found at www.vote.pa.gov.
Who’s on the ballot?
At the top of the ticket are key races for Congress and Pennsylvania governor. Lehigh Valley voters also will decide on their representatives in the state Legislature.
Read more about the key races here:
What to know about the candidates for Pennsylvania General Assembly