Voting Access Scorecard - Pennsylvania
The Franchise Project’s Voting Access Scorecard ranks how accessible voting is in Pennsylvania. The Voting Access Scorecard measures the accessibility of American elections by analyzing state election laws and practices. Each state’s performance is based on 30 measurable metrics shown to affect accessibility and foster participation. All metrics are weighted equally to fairly assess all states and their practices. If answered in the affirmative, each metric is worth 1 point, for a total of 30 points. Note that if a practice varies by county or municipality, e.g. the number of early voting locations in Wisconsin, the state only received 0.5 points for that metric. Note: Y=Yes, N=No, and V=Varies by Municipality/County.
Currently, Pennsylvania ranks 35. You can make a difference! Take action now!Overall score: 14 / 30
Y=Yes, N=No, V=Varies by County/Municipality
| State registration deadline is the Friday before Election Day or later Pennsylvania Department of State: https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx | N |
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| State offers Election Day registration Pennsylvania Department of State: https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx | N |
| State has automatic registration Pennsylvania Department of State: https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx | N |
| State does NOT create barriers to voter registration by third parties (e.g. allows third party registration, does not require registration drive training or notification) Pennsylvania Department of State: https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx | Y |
| State does NOT impose fines or criminal penalties for negligent/accidential voter registration mistakes Pennsylvania Department of State: https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx | Y |
| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting in multiple locations per municipality/county Pennsylvania Department of State: https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/AbsenteeBallotForm.aspx | N |
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| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting during evenings and/or weekends Pennsylvania Department of State: https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/AbsenteeBallotForm.aspx | N |
| State allows no-excuse early voting/in-person absentee voting Pennsylvania Department of State: https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/AbsenteeBallotForm.aspx | N |
| State holds all elections entirely by mail Pennsylvania Department of State: http://www.dos.pa.gov/VotingElections/Pages/default.aspx | N |
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| State does NOT require an excuse to vote by mail Pennsylvania Department of State: https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/AbsenteeBallotForm.aspx | N |
| State deadline to return absentee ballot is NO earlier than Election Day (via any type of delivery) Must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before Election Day. Pennsylvania Department of State: http://www.votespa.com/en-us/Documents/Absentee_Ballot_Application.pdf | N |
| State allows all voters to sign up to vote by absentee permanently Only voters who are unable because of illness or physical disability to attend his or her polling place can sign up to vote by permanent absentee. Pennsylvania Department of State: https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/AbsenteeBallotForm.aspx | N |
| State allows voters to request vote by mail ballot online Pennsylvania Department of State: http://www.votespa.com/en-us/register-to-vote/Pages/How-to-Register.aspx | N |
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| State allows voters to register online Pennsylvania Department of State: http://www.votespa.com/en-us/register-to-vote/Pages/How-to-Register.aspx | Y |
| State allows voters to check their Election Day polling location online Pennsylvania Department of State: https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/PollingPlaceInfo.aspx | Y |
| State allows voters to check their vote by mail status online Pennsylvania Department of State: http://www.votespa.com/en-us/Documents/Absentee_Ballot_Application.pdf | N |
| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote on Election Day Pennsylvania Department of State: http://www.votespa.com/en-us/Documents/Everyone%20VotesPA/EvPA%20content%20update%202.22.2017/FINAL%20DOS%20EvPA%20VoterGuide-8x11-english-2017.pdf | Y |
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| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote early or by mail Pennsylvania Department of State: http://www.votespa.com/en-us/Documents/Everyone%20VotesPA/EvPA%20content%20update%202.22.2017/FINAL%20DOS%20EvPA%20VoterGuide-8x11-english-2017.pdf | Y |
| If ID required, State allows voter to vote through alternative process that does not require voter action (Note: full points received if no ID required at all) Pennsylvania Department of State: http://www.votespa.com/en-us/Documents/Everyone%20VotesPA/EvPA%20content%20update%202.22.2017/FINAL%20DOS%20EvPA%20VoterGuide-8x11-english-2017.pdf | Y |
| During voter maintenance process, if address has not changed, state allows voter to simply mail back confirmation form Penn. Stat. 1506(e): http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/25/25.HTM If address is found to have changed after standard process, registrant must--within time tbd by the commission, at least ten and and at most 30 days--"communicate with the commission" and "prove[] qualifications." Then, "the commission shall investigate and, if not satisfied of the right of the registered elector to remain registered at the address, shall cancel the registration of the elector." 1510(b)(2). If purging process is triggered by failure to vote, "[w]ithin 30 days from the date of mailing of the notice under paragraph (1), the registered elector must file with the commission either personally or by mail a written request for reinstatement of registration or a properly executed removal notice which sets forth the registered elector's place of residence and which is signed by the registered elector." | N |
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| State is NOT a member of Interstate Crosscheck Bryan Caskey, Kansas Secretary of State, Director of Elections (email communication, May 24, 2023) | Y |
| State is Member of ERIC ERIC, http://www.ericstates.org/whowear John Lindback, ERIC Executive Director (email communication, May 25, 2023) | Y |
| State refused to comply with the Pence-Kobach voter registration data request Pennsylvania Governor: https://twitter.com/GovernorTomWolf/status/880893706517315584 | N |
| State allows individuals to vote when their sentence is complete 25 P.S. § 1301: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&ttl;=25; Pennsylvania Department of State: http://www.votespa.com/en-us/Documents/Everyone%20VotesPA/EvPA%20content%20update%202.22.2017/FINAL%20DOS%20EvPA%20VoterGuide-8x11-english-2017.pdf | Y |
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| State allows individuals to vote during their term of incarceration 25 P.S. § 1301: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&ttl;=25; Pennsylvania Department of State: http://www.votespa.com/en-us/Documents/Everyone%20VotesPA/EvPA%20content%20update%202.22.2017/FINAL%20DOS%20EvPA%20VoterGuide-8x11-english-2017.pdf | N |
| State allows individuals to vote after incarceration, while on probation or parole 25 P.S. § 1301: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&ttl;=25; Pennsylvania Department of State: http://www.votespa.com/en-us/Documents/Everyone%20VotesPA/EvPA%20content%20update%202.22.2017/FINAL%20DOS%20EvPA%20VoterGuide-8x11-english-2017.pdf | Y |
| State voting technology requires a paper trail Pennsylvania does not appear to have a permanent paper trail requirement. Penn. Stats: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/US/PDF/1937/0/0320..PDF | N |
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| State requires poll worker training 25 PS § 2684: http://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-25-ps-elections-electoral-districts/pa-st-sect-25-2684.html | Y |
| State law requires voting machines to meet federal standards, testing by a federally accredited laboratory, or federal certification 25 PS § 3031.5: https://govt.westlaw.com/pac/Document/NE9287BF0343011DA8A989F4EECDB8638?viewType=FullText&originationContext;=documenttoc&transitionType;=CategoryPageItem&contextData;=(sc.Default) | Y |
| State provides readily accessible voting technology information Pennsylvania Department of State: http://www.votespa.com/en-us/voting-and-elections/types-of-voting/Pages/In-Person.aspx | Y |
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