How to Vote in Erie County, PA

The difference between a mail-in ballot and absentee ballot is in the voter's ability to physically attend the polls on Election Day. Think of a mail-in ballot as choosing to vote by mail, and an absentee ballot as needing to vote by mail due a special circumstance (travel, active duty, disability, etc.)

• To qualify for a mail-in ballot you must be registered to vote in Erie County. To request annual mail-in status, refer to the annual request section of your application.
• To be a qualified absentee voter you must be a registered voter, AND either:
  • Absent from the municipality on Election Day
    - OR -
  • Have a physical disability. To apply to be an annual absentee voter, you must obtain a signature from your Doctor on your application.

• If you completed the annual request on your mail-in or absentee ballot application, you will automatically receive an annual application in February each year.
• Return the application to our office, and you will automatically receive a ballot for the Primary AND General Election.
• You can cancel your annual/permanent status at any time, by completing and returning the annual/permanent status cancellation form.

You must be a registered voter in Erie County to request a ballot from our office.

To apply for a ballot online, you must have a valid PA Driver's License, or photo I.D. from the PA Department of Transportation (PennDOT).

Visit the Ballot Request Application site provided by pavoterservices.pa.gov to request your ballot online.

To obtain a paper mail-in �or absentee ballot application, please visit one of the following:

• A state Wine and Spirits store
• A State Representative's Office
• A County Library
• The Voter Registration Office

Alternatively, you can download and print a hard copy of your application usi�ng the links below:

• Printable Mail-in Ballot Application
• Printable Absentee Ballot Application

The accessible mail ballot may be used by voters who use a screen reader or assistive devices. This is an accessible remote ballot option. For more information visit: https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/vote/voter-support/accessible-voting/accessible-remote-ballot-marking-solution-for-mail-voting.html

To avoid delays, the voter should fill out the accessible remote ballot application within 24 hours of applying for a mail-in or absentee ballot.

• To apply for an accessible remote ballot, you must also have applied for an absentee or mail-in ballot. (two separate applications)
• Then use this link to apply for an accessible remote ballot: https://paebrprod.powerappsportals.us/EBR/DOS/Remote-Access-Ballot-Request/

Once our office receives both applications, we will send you the official envelopes to return your printed remote ballot. Please provide a valid email address along with your request. The office will email you essential instructions to access and vote your ballot. Ballots must be received by the Erie County Board of Elections by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Return your applications to:

Erie County Voter Registration Office
140 W. 6th St., Room 112
Erie PA, 16501

You will recieve your mail-in ballot or absentee ballot as soon as possible after they are printed, but no later than two weeks before Election Tuesday. 

Once complete, you have several options for returning your ballot to the Board of Elections.

• Return by mail – be sure to include postage on the return envelope. Please account for postal processing and delivery.
• Use the secure drop box located in front of the Erie County Courthouse. (Note that you may only drop YOUR ballot in the drop box!) The drop box is available 24/7. Be sure to complete the Voter's Declaration.
• Hand-deliver your ballot to the Voters Registration office. Be sure to complete the Voter's Declaration.

The deadline for the Erie County Board of Elections to receive your voted ballot is 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Once your ballot has been received, you may not vote at your Poll site.

You can now track your ballot using the Pennsylvania Department of State's Ballot tracker — simply enter your information and submit.

Please note: Erie County is partnered with a local printing company to help fulfill the high demand for mailed ballots. Please be advised that the mailed date will be a few days after the one reflected on the Department of State's website.

If you applied for a mail-in or absentee ballot, but lost or never received it, you may vote a provisional ballot at your designated polling site.

A provisional ballot records your vote while the Erie County Board of Elections determines whether it can be counted. It must be signed in front of election officials at the polling place.

If the Erie County Board of Elections determines you are eligible to vote in the election district where you cast the provisional ballot, it will be officially counted within 7 days of the election. 

If you received your ballot, but do not have enough time to mail it back to the Board of Elections by the deadline, you may:

• Hand-deliver it to the Voter Registration office
• Use the drop box
• Surrender all of your balloting materials at your poll site to be voided by the Judge of Elections, and cast your vote at the poll.
• If you have a disability that prevents you from applying in person for your mail ballot or delivering your mail ballot, you may designate an agent to deliver your ballot materials for you. Please complete and return the Designated Agent Form to our office, do not place this form in the envelope with your ballot. Agents may only assist one voter per election cycle. However if multiple voters with disabilities live in the same household, the same agent may help those voters as well.
• Pennsylvania voters with disabilities now have the opportunity to mark their absentee or mail-in ballot electronically. For more information visit the Remote Ballot Information site provided by www.votespa.com.

Absolutely! If you are a member of the military or an overseas civilian voter, you have options for how to register and vote.

• Complete a Federal Postcard Application, this will allow you to register to vote and request a ballot. The United States Department of Defense distributes this form as Federal Form Number 76. Members of the military may submit an application through Election Day, and have a 7-day extension to return a voted ballot. Overseas civilian voters must adhere to the regular deadlines.
• Complete a Federal Write-in Application, this will allow you to register and vote if there is not enough time to receive and send back your ballot before the election. Use the UMOVA notice to help with determining your vote.

Yes, you can still vote by mail if special circumstances (unexpected injury or illness, last-minute absence) arise in the last week before Election Day, such that they would prevent you from voting in-person.

This is done via an Emergency Absentee Ballot, which can be submitted either yourself or through an authorized representative:

• Emergency Application for Absentee Ballot: Must be returned to the Erie County Election Office by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
• Authorized Representative for Emergency Absentee Ballot: Allows someone you delegate to pick up and/or return an emergency absentee ballot on your behalf. 

If you or someone you know has a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, and it prevents you from submitting a paper application for a mail-in or absentee ballot or from returning your voted mail-in or absentee ballot, you can authorize someone to operate on your behalf via the Designated Agent Form.