Member of the Military

If you are a member of the military and unable to attend your polling place in person on Election Day, you may be eligible to vote by absentee ballot. Absentee electors in military service may obtain an absentee ballot by:

• Filing an Official Military Application Form (Federal Form Number 76), distributed by the United States  Department of Defense.
• Filing any other official absentee ballot application form to request an absentee ballot.

There are also several important things to keep in mind:

• Only you or an adult member of your immediate family may submit your application for an absentee ballot.
• If you are home on Election Day and have not voted by absentee ballot, you may, if registered, appear at your election district polling place and vote.
• If you are not registered, you may apply in person and vote at the office of the County Board of Elections.
• The County Board of Elections must receive original completed absentee ballot applications prior to Election Day.

Members of the military voting by absentee ballot must have their ballots postmarked by 5 p.m. the Monday before Election Day and received by the County Board of Elections by 5 p.m. seven days after Election Day.

Special Write-In Absentee Ballots

Members of the military who are outside the United States on Election Day might receive a special write-in absentee ballot. Election Officials use write-in ballots when they are required by law to provide absentee ballots to absentee voters, but official absentee ballots have not yet been printed.

The special write-in ballot includes all of the offices and questions that will appear on the official ballots for the election district, but not the names of the candidates for the offices. Instead, Election Officials will provide a separate list of candidates who have filed to appear on the official ballot and who have not withdrawn or had their names removed from the ballot by a court.

A special write-in absentee ballot returned to the County Board of Elections will be handled and counted the same way as an absentee ballot cast on an official absentee ballot.

Learn more about voting by absentee ballot. 

Federal Voting Assistance Program

Military voters in select Pennsylvania counties may now utilize a secure online tool to request and/or receive absentee ballots electronically. The tool, which is provided by the Federal Voting Assistance Program, is currently offered in at least 33 counties across the state, including Philadelphia and Allegheny. To find out if the service is offered in your county, contact your County Board of Elections.

Absentee ballot information is available through www.fvap.gov. The organization provides voting assistance for uniformed service members, their families and citizens living outside the United States. To request an electronic absentee ballot, begin by creating a new account.