Voter Guide

Election Day: April 22, 2008

POLLS ARE OPEN FROM 7 A.M. to 8 P.M. Registered voters who are in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

ARE YOU VOTING FOR THE FIRST TIME in your precinct? If so, you will be required to provide one of the following approved forms of identification:

Approved forms of photo identification:
  • PA driver's license or ID card issued by PennDOT
  • ID issued by any other Commonwealth agency
  • ID issued by the U.S. Government
  • U.S. Passport
  • U.S. Armed Forces ID
  • Student ID
  • Employee ID

Approved forms of non-photo identification (ID must include the name and address of the elector):
  • Voter's identification card issued by the voter registration commission
  • Non-photo ID issued by the Commonwealth
  • Non-photo ID issued by the U.S. Government
  • Firearm permit
  • Current utility bill
  • Current bank statement
  • Current paycheck
  • Government check


If you are a first time voter and fail to produce ID, or if your ID is challenged by the judge of elections, you shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot.

Voting Procedures

1. All electors shall announce their name distinctly and audibly to the election board and sign the poll book. Such election officer shall thereupon announce the elector's name so that it may be heard by all members of the election board and all watchers present in the polling place.

2. The officer compares the elector's signature with his/her digitized signature in the poll book. All electors shall then sign the book.

3. If the signature appears to be genuine, the officer initials the poll book and the elector is then permitted to vote.

4. If the signature does not appear to be genuine, the elector should be challenged as to identity, and before being permitted to vote, must produce evidence and make a supporting affidavit attesting his/her identity.

5. After the elector is found qualified, the officers having charge of the numbered lists of voters enter the name of the voter, and at primaries a letter or abbreviation designating the party in whose primary the elector votes.

6. The district board of election shall sign an affidavit, after the polls close, swearing under oath that he or she examined the required identification presented by the voters beside whose names in the poll book the election officer has affixed his or her initials. Only those election officers who actually examined voter identification during Election Day are required to sign the affidavit.

Voter Assistance

No person is allowed to receive assistance in voting unless his/her registration record indicates the need for assistance or the voter completes and signs a declaration of the need for assistance at the polling place prior to entering the voting machine booth.

A voter may select anyone to assist them EXCEPT:
  • The judge of elections
  • The voter's employer or agent of that employer
  • An officer or agent of the voter's union

Polling Place Restrictions

ONLY CERTAIN PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THE POLLING PLACE other then voters, including but not limited to; the district election board, court appointed overseers, a constable and poll watchers.

The election board includes a judge of elections (elected), majority inspector (elected), minority inspector (elected), clerk (appointed by minority inspector) and in cases where machines or electronic voting systems are used a machine inspector (appointed). Each poll watcher must have a certificate issued by the county board of elections.

Handicap Accessibility

There is no guarantee that your polling place will be accessible to all persons with a disability. All counties are required to provide notices of the locations of the polling places and list whether polling places are accessible.

Inactive Voters

In addition to signing your name on the voter's certificate and/or providing identification, you may be asked to sign an affirmation if you are marked as "inactive" on the county's records. Records are marked inactive when a registrant has not responded to an address check the county voter registration commission has mailed to them.

The following procedures apply for inactive voters:

1. If you have moved form the address of registration listed, you must print your name and date of birth, complete Section A providing your old address and new address, and complete Section C, by placing your signature on the affirmation.

2. If you still live at the address of registration listed you must print your name and date of birth, complete Section B confirming your current address, and complete Section C, by placing your signature on the affirmation.

Once you have completed and signed the affirmation and signed the voter certificate and are found to be qualified, you will be able to vote.

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Election Deadlines

MARCH
24 Last day to register for April 22 Primary
APRIL
15 Last day to apply for civilian absentee ballot
18 Last day for county boards of elections to receive voted civilian absentee ballots
22 PRIMARY ELECTION
23 First day to register after primary
29 Last day for county boards of elections to receive voted milliary/overseas absentee ballots (postmarked by April 21)
OCTOBER
6 Last day to register for Nov. 4 General Election
28 Last day to apply for a civilian absentee ballot
31 Last day for county boards of elections to receive voted civilian absentee ballots
NOVEMBER
4 GENERAL ELECTION
5 First day to register after General Election
12 Last day for for county boards of elections to receive voted millitary/overseas absentee ballots (postmarked by Nov. 3)