Do I need an ID to vote in PA? And other Centre County Election Day questions, answered
It’s Election Day, and you may have questions about voting.
We have answers.
Polls opened at 7 a.m. and will remain opened until 8 p.m. Those in line by closing time will be allowed to vote. You can learn more about what is on the ballot here.
I still have my PA mail-in ballot. Can I ship it or put it in a dropbox?
No, but you can (and should!) vote.
You have two options with regard to your mail-in ballot: bring it to your polling place or bring it to the county elections office.
If you bring your mail-in ballot to your polling place (which you can find by inputting your address here), you will surrender it in exchange for an in-person ballot. The poll workers will secure your mail-in ballot so it will not be counted.
If you forgot or cannot find your mail-in ballot, you may vote with a provisional ballot, and county elections officials will determine whether your vote counts once they ensure your mail-in ballot wasn’t returned.
For those in Centre County, going the county elections office route may be less involved, but it will require a trip to Bellefonte. Simply hand your filled-in ballot, secured in its privacy and return envelopes, to the elections office before 8 p.m. The office is located at 502 East Howard St., Suite 104 in Bellefonte.
Is it too late to register to vote?
For this election, yes, but don’t let that stop you from registering anyway.
Any Pennsylvania resident who is or will be 18 or older before the next election, scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, 2026, can register at vote.pa.gov by Monday, May 4.
How about same-day voting?
That doesn’t exist in Pennsylvania. Register to vote ahead of the next election at vote.pa.gov. The registration deadline is May 4.
Can I vote outside my assigned polling location?
No, you should find your polling location by entering your address at this website. If poll workers say you are at the incorrect polling location and you believe otherwise, you may vote with a provisional ballot, and county elections officials will determine whether the vote counts at a later date.
Do I need to show an ID to vote in PA?
No, unless you are voting in a precinct for the first time. If you want to play it safe and bring a form of identification anyway, poll workers will accept any one of more than a dozen forms of photo and non-photo ID.
Pennsylvania driver’s licenses, PennDOT ID cards, federal identification cards, U.S. passports, student ID cards and employee ID cards are all acceptable forms of photo ID.
If you do not have a photo ID, bring your voter registration card, firearm permit, a current utility bill or bank statement, a paycheck or a government check that has your name and address on it.
This story was originally published November 4, 2025 at 1:01 PM.
