Pa. midterm elections: We’re answering your questions about the voting process

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WITF and America Amplified, a national public-media collaboration focused on community engagement and listening, are teaming up to answer your questions about how to participate in the Nov. 8 midterm elections.

We’ve already gotten some great questions — but would love more. Submit yours by using the form below.

This effort is also part of WITF’s participation in Democracy Day , an effort to draw attention to the threat to democracy and to “provide the public with the context and information they need” to protect democracy.

A big part of that: Participate in the process.

We’ve answered some reader/listener questions below, but first, WITF’s Capitol Bureau Chief Sam Dunklau pulled these from some reporting he’s been doing:

Q: I’m planning to drop off my mail-in ballot at a drop box, and so is my family member or partner. Can one of us drop off ballots for the group?

No, this isn’t allowed under state law. Each of you will have to drop off your ballots separately if you end up using a drop box. You can also drop off your mail-in ballot at a mailbox or post office — but election experts recommend doing that by Nov. 1st so it can arrive at your county election office by 8 PM on Election Day, Nov. 8.

The Department of State says it plans to share tips and other information about voting by mail over the next two months on its social media pages.

My county has a form that lets me register to vote and apply for a mail-in ballot at the same time. Is that new?

Yes! The Department of State told counties at the end of July that it would roll out that new form, to help make both processes easier for voters. Check with your county to see if it’s available.

Voter registration and mail-in ballot request forms are also available online here. Remember that if you fill out the combo form, the mail-in ballot request section is optional. If you prefer to vote in-person, you don’t have to fill that section out.

And here are some reader/listener questions:

Q: My son turns 18 on October 28. How can we make sure he can vote 11 days later on November 8? The usual registration is probably too slow. —Janelle Wertzberger

A: We reached out to the PA Department of State for an answer on this and this is what they told us:  The good news is that your son can, in fact, register to vote before Pennsylvania’s Nov. 8 general election, so long as he meets the other eligibility requirements and registers before the Oct. 24 deadline. For your understanding, in Pennsylvania, a voter must be at least 18 years of age on or before the day of the next primary, special, municipal or general election – meaning many 17-year-old voters do register ahead of Election Day. Voters can register online, by mail, in person and at PennDOT and some other government agencies.

Q: I am still away on voting day. I wish to use mail in this one time only. What do I need to do? Where do I go? —Fern Berger

A: Any Pennsylvania voter can request a mail-in ballot for any reason. To request a mail-in ballot and find out more about absentee voting, go to this link.

Q: What type of ID do I need to vote in the midterms? —Michael Floccari

A: In Pennsylvania, voters only need to show ID at the polls when voting for the first time, according to the Department of State’s website. For first time voters, a list of approved forms of identification can be found here.

Q: My normal signature — the one I use when I sign in at my local polling place — uses only my middle initial. I am now voting by mail-in ballot, which comes addressed to me using my full middle name. How should I sign my name on the envelope? – Ralph Kaden

A: According to the National Council of State Legislators, when voters return an absentee/mail ballot, they must sign an affidavit or declaration on the ballot envelope. When the ballot is returned to the election office, election officials will examine every signature and compare it to other documents in their files that contain the voter signature—usually the voter registration record. Though officials have been instructed by the Department of State not to reject your ballot if the signature doesn’t match, it is best to sign the declaration the same way you signed the voter registration record. 

Q:  Where can I obtain information about how candidates voted on issues? – Sandra Breman

A:  This website will walk you through finding how Congressional representatives have voted. You can use this website to find voting records for state senators and representatives. For campaign- and issue-related election coverage, visit witf.org/elections. For specific information on where gubernatorial candidates stand on issues, see this candidate guide created by our partner at Spotlight PA. Spotlight also has other candidate guides and election information here.

Q:  If you do not want to vote for [either] candidate running for that office, can you leave that section blank? – Anonymous

A:  You are not required to make a selection in every race listed on your ballot. Any vote cast for other offices will be counted even if other offices are left blank.

Q:  When should we anticipate receiving mail in ballots? – Carol Workman

A:  When you receive your mail-in ballot can depend on when you requested it and where you live. Ballots are sent out by counties, and they began sending them out in September. You can track your ballot by filling in your information on the Pennsylvania voter services website.  

Q: Will Pennsylvania be keeping track of mail ballots requested and received by each county? And if so, where can that information be found as returns begin being [counted]? – Michael Pruser

A:  ​​ The state of Pennsylvania tracks mail-in ballot requests and votes that each county receives. Between now and the Nov. 8 Election Day, the Department of State is publishing a Daily Mail Ballot Report containing that information on its website. DOS will also share results in the race for governor and U.S. Senate once polls close at 8 p.m. here. For county-level results, you’ll need to check your county’s election website.

Q:  When is the election and when can I vote?

A:  The Midterm Election is on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

In Pennsylvania, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you are in line to vote when the polls close, you will still be allowed to vote.  

You can also vote early in Pennsylvania: As soon as ballots are ready, you can request, receive, vote and cast your mail-in or absentee ballot all in one visit to your county election board or other designated location.

Q:  How can I find out if I’m registered to vote and where I should vote?

A:  The deadline to register to vote in the upcoming Midterm Election is Oct. 24, 2022. You can register online at this PA Voter Services website. 

You can check on your voter registration status here, with your name or your PennDOT Driver’s Licenses or PennDOT ID. Your party affiliation and polling place address will be displayed once you have provided an exact match with the information on your voter registration record.