HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – Pennsylvania counties have a new toolkit for on-demand mail ballot voting ahead of the November election.<\/p>\n
The Pennsylvania Department of State, which oversees elections, announced the new feature on Tuesday during a weekly pre-election press conference.<\/a><\/p>\n [sailthru_widget name=”Sailthru Widget Block” sailthru_list=”This Week in PA” title=”This Week in Pennsylvania”]<\/p>\n Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said the toolkit includes a streamlined mail ballot application feature counties can use to assist people voting in person with a mail ballot.<\/p>\n While Pennsylvania does not have in-person early voting like other states, eligible voters<\/a> can vote by mail ballot in person at the county elections office or a designated satellite office. This process allows people to apply for, fill out, and return a mail ballot in one visit.<\/p>\n “Voting on demand by mail ballot is a convenient option that allows eligible Pennsylvanians to make their voices heard on their own schedule. They can apply for, receive, mark, and return their ballot all in one trip,” Schmidt said. “Providing this new toolkit is part of our ongoing commitment to supporting voters and counties in fulfilling the most basic tenant of our republic – the right to vote.”<\/p>\n Schmidt announced last week that some counties had begun sending mail ballots<\/a>, and, as of September 22, more than 20 counties have issued mail ballots to voters who requested them.<\/p>\n \u00a0The 2026 races that could decide control of the Pennsylvania House and Senate\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n As of Tuesday, more than 986,000 mail ballot applications have been approved, roughly 95% of the total applications received, according to Schmidt.<\/p>\n Election Day is Nov. 3, 2026. Pennsylvania voters<\/a> have until Oct. 19 to\u00a0register to vote<\/a> and Oct. 27 to request a mail-in or absentee ballot<\/a>. Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., barring a judicial order.<\/p>\n