Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, elections are overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of State, which provides guidance and enforces election laws. The actual administration is handled by 67 county boards of elections.
Pennsylvania Election System

Frequently Asked Questions

Members of the Pillars of the Community have asked the following questions about Pennsylvania’s election system. Here is what the Commonwealth says about voting and elections. In our subsequent meetings the Pillars and election officials will continue to discuss and kick the tires around these subjects.


Is voting by mail reliable?

As the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website explains, there are safeguards in the process to make voting by mail reliable. Each mail-in ballot has a unique ID number, which ensures that each voter can only receive and return one ballot. The system flags any attempt to vote multiple times by matching the ID numbers. Once a mail-in ballot is returned, the voter’s record is updated to reflect that their ballot has been cast. If a voter tries to vote in person, they can only do so using a provisional ballot, which will be reviewed to ensure that no duplicate ballot is counted.

What security measures are in place to protect my vote?

Pennsylvania employs multiple layers of security to protect votes. The state’s voter registration databases are secured with continuous monitoring, and officials respond quickly to any alerts. Pennsylvania works closely with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to conduct in-depth cybersecurity assessments. 

Election results are physically delivered and certified rather than transmitted over networks to prevent tampering. The certified voting systems used in Pennsylvania are not connected to the internet to guard against any  risk of hacking. Additionally, encryption and other protective technologies are employed, and independent vulnerability assessments are conducted regularly to ensure system integrity.

Voting equipment is inspected, tested and secured with tamper-evident seals before elections. Since 2019, all counties have implemented new voting systems that require paper ballots, adding an extra layer of security by providing a verifiable paper trail.

Is it possible for someone to vote more than once?

The voting system in Pennsylvania is designed to prevent duplicate voting. Each voter is issued a unique mail-in or absentee ballot, tracked by the Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors (SURE) system. This system ensures that if a voter submits multiple ballots or tries to vote both by mail and in person, the attempt is flagged, and only one vote is counted. If a mail ballot is submitted but the voter is unsure that it was received and then appears at the polls to cast a ballot in person, he or she will receive only a provisional ballot, which is only counted if officials confirm the mail ballot was not processed.

Can non-citizens vote in elections?

No, non-citizens may not vote, and Pennsylvania has procedures in place to prevent non-citizens from voting in Pennsylvania elections. To register to vote, individuals must be U.S. citizens, residents of Pennsylvania for at least 30 days and at least 18 years old by the next election. PennDOT screens for these criteria, and only those who provide proof of U.S. citizenship can register to vote.

Are voting machines accurate?

All machines are tested and certified by both the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) and the Pennsylvania Department of State before they are used in any election. Before each election, counties conduct Logic and Accuracy (L&A) tests to ensure that every machine is properly recording and counting votes. These tests are open to the public for transparency. Pennsylvania also ensures that all voting systems produce a voter-verifiable paper trail, allowing for post-election audits like Risk-Limiting Audits (RLA) to verify the accuracy of the count. Additionally, voting machines are not connected to the internet, to guard against the risk of hacking or tampering.

Can election officials influence the outcome of an election?

Pennsylvania has strict measures in place to prevent election officials from influencing election outcomes. Bipartisan poll watchers and representatives from political parties monitor the process, ensuring transparency. All election officials must take an oath of impartiality, and Risk-Limiting Audits (RLA) are conducted after each election to verify the accuracy of results. Voting results are securely tracked, audited, and certified by independent bodies, with extensive security protocols in place to prevent any undue influence. In addition, recounts and contests that may be filed after an election provide a further check.

When are absentee/mail-in ballots counted?

Pennsylvania law allows absentee and mail-in ballots to be processed beginning at 7 a.m. on election day, but they cannot be recorded until after the polls close on election day.

Pennsylvania News & Updates

Pennsylvania Election News

Pennsylvania

AP: Federal, state officials say no evidence to back up claims of election fraud in Pennsylvania

Eric Tucker of AP news reports on state and federal officials statements that there is no evidence to back up claims of election fraud in Pennsylvania. A senior official at…
November 6, 2024
Pennsylvania

AP: This is how precincts in Pennsylvania handle unexpected issues on Election Day

Katie Knol of AP reports on how Pennsylvania election officials will handle unexpected problems that may arise during election day. On Tuesday, millions of people in Pennsylvania will travel to their…
November 5, 2024
Pennsylvania

WGAL: Lancaster County official talks about election security, voter registration fraud investigation

WGAL interviewed Lancaster County Commissioner Ray D’Agostino about election integrity and administration questions. News 8 spoke with Lancaster County Commissioner Ray D’Agostino, the chair of the elections board, about a…
October 29, 2024
Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s Comprehensive Approach to Election Integrity with Jonathan Marks

As Pennsylvania prepares for the 2024 elections, officials are emphasizing election security and transparency. Jonathan Marks, Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary of Elections and Commissions, explains how voters can trust…
October 25, 2024
Pennsylvania

CBS: Will using a Sharpie invalidate your ballot? Debunking an election conspiracy theory

Joshua Sidorowicz of CBS debunks an election conspiracy that using sharpie to mark your vote will invalidate the ballot in Pennsylvania. Some Pennsylvania voters are now asking whether filling out their…
October 25, 2024
Pennsylvania

PennLive: Bipartisan group of former elected officials work on battling misinformation

Ivey Dejesus of PennLive reports on a bipartisan effort in Pennsylvania that seeks to reassure voters of the integrity of the electoral process. Misinformation has been…
October 24, 2024
Pennsylvania

Votebeat: Voters deserve second chance if mail ballots are rejected, Pennsylvania Supreme Court rules

Carter Walker of Votebeat reports on a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that allows voters to cast a provisional ballot in person if their mail-in ballot is rejected.
October 24, 2024
Pennsylvania

NPR: Pennsylvania’s top elections official on conspiracies, the voting process and what to expect on election night

Michael Martin, Claire Murashima, and Destinee Adams of NPR report on Pennsylvania’s Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt’s answers to questions about the voting process. Pennsylvania is one of the…
October 23, 2024
Pennsylvania

PoliticsPA: Department of State Intervenes in F&M Votes/Lancaster County Voter Registration Dispute

Steve Ulrich of PoliticsPA reports on Pennsylvania’s Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt’s call to investigate claims of improper voter registration. In a tersely…
October 22, 2024
Pennsylvania

WHYY: What to do if you witness voter intimidation on Election Day

Sandra Jones of WHYY reports on election officials precautions to prevent voter intimidation at Pennsylvania polls. With Election Day drawing near, local officials in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have taken…
October 22, 2024