{"id":174824,"date":"2026-04-24T12:18:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T12:18:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/174824\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T12:18:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T12:18:07","slug":"everything-college-students-need-to-know-about-voting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/174824\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything college students need to know about voting"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spotlight PA<\/a> is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By Elizabeth Estrada of Spotlight PA<\/p>\n

HARRISBURG \u2014 Pennsylvania is home to nearly 300 colleges, universities, and technical schools. If you are one of the hundreds of thousands of students who attend any of these institutions and are eligible to vote, you have options for doing so in the upcoming May 19 primary election.<\/p>\n

Whether you are voting for the first time, choosing to vote by mail, or simply updating your registration, here\u2019s everything you need to know about how to cast a ballot as a college student in Pennsylvania:<\/p>\n

Can I vote in Pennsylvania as a college student?<\/p>\n

Yes, as long as you meet the requirements to register to vote in Pennsylvania. You must:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Be a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the election.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Be a resident of your election district for at least 30 days before the next election.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Be at least 18 on Election Day.<\/p>\n

If you meet those requirements, you can choose the address at which you register \u2014 though you can pick only one.<\/p>\n

You can register to vote where you currently live, whether it\u2019s on or off campus, or at your prior home address, as long as you still have family or a guardian who resides there.<\/p>\n

If you register at your prior home address and plan to vote in person, it\u2019s important to consider how feasible it will be to travel to your polling place. Plan your Election Day accordingly and remember that as long as you are in line to vote by 8 p.m., you are allowed to cast your ballot.<\/p>\n

If I am new to Pennsylvania and moved here to attend college, can I still register to vote with my college address?<\/p>\n

As long as you have lived in the voting district where you plan to vote for at least 30 days before the election, you can register with your college address.<\/p>\n

What if I live off campus?<\/p>\n

If you live off campus, you can use that address to register to vote.<\/p>\n

What if I moved to a new address on or off campus?<\/p>\n

If you are already registered to vote, have moved to a new address, and would like to vote from this address, you must update your voter registration<\/a> by May 4.<\/p>\n

If you move within Pennsylvania less than 30 days before an election, you have to vote at the polling place for your old address.<\/p>\n

Am I eligible to vote if I turn 18 on Election Day?<\/p>\n

As long as you meet the additional requirements of being a United States citizen and being a resident of the election district where you plan to register for at least 30 days, you are eligible to vote if you are at least 18 years old on or before Election Day. This is true whether it\u2019s a primary, special, municipal, or general election.<\/p>\n

The last day to register to vote<\/a> for the upcoming primary election is May 4.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m voting for the first time. How do I prepare and what should I expect?<\/p>\n

Voting for the first time is exciting! If you plan to vote in person, look up your polling place<\/a> ahead of time and plan when and how you will get there. You can make it an activity and bring your friends and family if they will be voting at the same location. In Pennsylvania, polls open at 7 a.m., and as long as you are in line by 8 p.m., you are allowed to cast your vote.<\/p>\n

Any time you vote for the first time at a new location you need to show a photo or non-photo ID<\/a>, so make sure you have that with you.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s good practice to take a look at a sample ballot ahead of time by visiting your local county website<\/a>. This will inform you what races you will be voting on and if there are any ballot measures.<\/p>\n

For the upcoming May 19 primary election, Democrats and Republicans will cast their ballots for their parties\u2019 candidates in the race for governor \u2014 Democrat Josh Shapiro<\/a> and Republican Stacy Garrity<\/a> are both running unopposed for their parties\u2019 nominations, though there is also a write-in campaign<\/a> for a Republican state Senator. Lieutenant governor is also on the ballot, as are critical elections for Congress and the General Assembly<\/a>. The candidates and races you see on your ballot will vary depending on where you live and the party with which you are registered.<\/p>\n

Lehigh Valley and Pa. primary election 2026: Here\u2019s who has filed to run in key races<\/a><\/p>\n

What if I want to vote by mail?<\/p>\n

In Pennsylvania, all voters can cast ballots by mail if they choose to.<\/p>\n

To request a mail ballot, you have to be registered to vote. The deadline to request a mail ballot<\/a> is May 12. You can apply online<\/a>, in person at your county election office<\/a>, or by mail<\/a>. Keep in mind that you will need time to fill out and return your mail ballot.<\/p>\n

Remember: Mail ballots must be received by the county election office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Postmarks do not count. Mail also isn\u2019t the only way to return these ballots. You have the option to return your completed ballot to your county election office<\/a>, or to a designated drop-off location or drop box, if your county has them.<\/p>\n

Visit vote.pa.gov<\/a> to read the Pennsylvania Department of State\u2019s rules for mail ballots<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m studying abroad. How can I vote?<\/p>\n

If you will be out of the country on Election Day, you can still vote. The Federal Voting Assistance Program<\/a> (FVAP) provides support to U.S. citizens who are overseas so that they can cast their ballots from afar.<\/p>\n

First, you must be registered to vote. You can register using any official registration form \u2014 online<\/a>, by mail, or in-person<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you are overseas, you can vote using an absentee ballot. There are various ways to request one:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Apply online<\/a> or via a mail-in application<\/a>. To request a paper voter registration form, email ST-UOCAVAQues@pa.gov<\/a>. If you would like an absentee ballot application sent to you via email, you can request one by emailing stsvcuocavaabs@pa.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Complete the Federal Post Card Application<\/a> (FPCA) and send it to your county election office. Depending on where you live, you might have the option to mail the application to your local election office, or send it via email or fax. If you would like to request that a FPCA be sent to you via email, reach out to ST-UOCAVAApp@pa.gov<\/a>. Your county election office<\/a> may be able to provide you with support. Reach out to them with any questions.<\/p>\n

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is May 12 and the application must be received by 5 p.m. on that day by your county election office. However, it is highly recommended that you submit your application as soon as possible to ensure it is processed and sent out in a timely manner.<\/p>\n

If you request an absentee ballot, but do not receive it in time, you can use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot<\/a> (FWAB) as a backup. This option only allows you to vote in federal races.<\/p>\n

Visit fvap.gov<\/a> for more information about the process of voting while abroad.<\/p>\n

What if I\u2019m registered with a third party or have no political affiliation?<\/p>\n

Pennsylvania has a closed primary system<\/a>, which means that only voters who are registered to a major political party \u2014 Democratic or Republican \u2014 are able to vote in the primary.<\/p>\n

However, independent, third-party and unaffiliated voters can still participate in statewide referenda, local ballot initiatives, and special elections that coincide with the primaries.<\/p>\n

Read Spotlight PA\u2019s complete election coverage, including voting guides, interactive tools, and more, at our 2026 Election Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n

BEFORE YOU GO\u2026 If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org\/donate<\/a>. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you<\/a> who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.<\/p>\n

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