Article Summary –
Pennsylvania law allows military and overseas civilian voters to cast absentee ballots in state and local elections. Federal law mandates absentee voting for uniformed services members, their families, and U.S. citizens abroad in federal contests. As of Sept. 24, 11,922 military and overseas civilian voters and 10,890 federal voters had approved mail ballot applications for the 2024 election. Military and overseas ballots must be mailed by the day before Election Day and received within seven days post-election, while federal voters have until 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Military and Overseas Voting in Pennsylvania: Absentee Ballot Guidelines
Military members stationed overseas encounter unique voting challenges. They can’t visit polls or election offices, necessitating special accommodations under federal and Pennsylvania law to ensure their ballots are cast.
Federal law mandates absentee voting for uniformed service members, their families, and U.S. citizens abroad in federal elections. Similarly, in Pennsylvania, military and overseas civilian voters can vote absentee in state and local elections.
“We ensure ballots reach military personnel in active combat zones,” says Justin Levitt, law professor and former White House advisor. “Delivering mail reliably to these areas is challenging, yet federally mandated.”
This group includes military service members stationed outside Pennsylvania, their families, students, and other overseas civilians.
“They depend on us more than other voters,” said Forrest Lehman, Lycoming County’s elections director.
Pennsylvania’s Military and Overseas Civilian Voters
These voters commonly use the Federal Post Card Application to request absentee ballots, which doubles as a registration form, sent by mail or email to county election offices. Requests must arrive by Election Day.
As of Sept. 24, 11,922 military and overseas voters in Pennsylvania had approved mail ballot applications for the 2024 general election, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State.
Ballots can be received by email but must be returned by mail. Military and overseas voters must affirm mailing their ballots by the day before Election Day; county offices must receive them within seven days post-Election Day by 5 p.m.
Federal Voters
Federal voters, overseas residents without plans to return to Pennsylvania, vote only in federal contests like the presidential election. They cannot register or vote in state/local elections.
“These are people who relocate to places like Costa Rica,” said Thad Hall, Mercer County elections director.
Federal voters face different deadlines: ballot requests due by the Tuesday before Election Day, and ballots must reach county offices by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
By Sept. 24, 10,890 federal voters had approved mail ballot applications for the upcoming election.
“Ensure meeting deadlines,” Hall emphasizes. “Mail ballots promptly.”
Prepare to vote by checking your registration status and planning here.
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This article is part of a collaborative series on Pennsylvania elections by WITF and The Associated Press.
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The AP receives support from foundations to enhance election and democracy coverage. Learn more about AP’s democracy initiative here.
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