Next: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Elections & voting
Registration and mail ballot deadlines are hard cut-offs, and Pennsylvania counts mail ballots by when they arrive rather than when they were posted. Every date below is transcribed from the Department of State calendar.
2026 General Election 98 days
Election day Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Polls open 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Voter registration deadline October 19, 2026
Board of Elections 215-348-6154
Source: PA Department of State ↗
Three things
Register, request, return
Each step has its own deadline, and missing one does not roll over into the next.
Step 1
Register or update
Registration closes 15 days before each election. Moving, or changing name or
party, needs a fresh form.
Step 2
Request a mail ballot
Any registered voter may vote by mail in Pennsylvania — no excuse required.
Step 3
Return it on time
Must be received by 8:00 p.m. on election day. A postmark is not
enough.
Or vote in person
Find your polling place
Polls open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Locations change between cycles.
Pennsylvania runs a closed primary
In a Pennsylvania primary you may only vote for candidates of the party you are registered with. Independent and third-party voters can still vote on ballot questions and special elections, but not in a major party's primary contest. Changing party affiliation requires updating your registration before the registration deadline — not on primary day.
2026 calendar
Dates & deadlines
Voter deadlines and candidate filing deadlines, as published by the Pennsylvania Department of State.
Still ahead
Nomination papers due Candidates · 2026 General Election
in 6 days
Objections & withdrawals Candidates · 2026 General Election
in 13 days
Voter registration deadline Voters · 2026 General Election
in 83 days
Mail ballot request deadline Voters · 2026 General Election
in 91 days
General Election Voters · 2026 General Election
in 98 days
Military & overseas ballot deadline Voters · 2026 General Election
in 105 days
2026 Primary Election — Tuesday, May 19, 2026
— Voter registration deadline · passed Last day to register before the primary. Mailed forms had to be received by this date — postmarks did not count.
— Mail ballot request deadline · passed Last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot.
— Primary Election ★ · passed Completed mail-in and civilian absentee ballots had to be received by the county election office by 8:00 p.m. — not postmarked by.
— Military & overseas ballot deadline · passed Last day for the county election office to receive completed military and overseas absentee ballots, submitted for delivery no later than 11:59 p.m. on May 18.
2026 General Election — Tuesday, November 3, 2026
— Nomination papers due Last day to circulate and file nomination papers.
— Objections & withdrawals Last day to file objections to nomination papers, and last day for withdrawal by candidates nominated by nomination papers or at the primary without a court order.
— Voter registration deadline Last day to register before the November election. Mailed forms must be received by this date — postmarks do not count.
— Mail ballot request deadline Last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot.
— General Election ★ Polls open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Completed mail-in and civilian absentee ballots must be received by the county election office by 8:00 p.m. — not postmarked by.
— Military & overseas ballot deadline Last day for the county election office to receive completed military and overseas absentee ballots, submitted for delivery no later than 11:59 p.m. on November 2.
Source: Pennsylvania Department of State — Upcoming Elections ↗ — retrieved July 25, 2026. Dates can shift by court order or legislation; confirm with the Department of State or the Board of Elections before relying on any deadline.
Official
Who runs the election
Pennsylvania elections are administered county by county. The Bucks County Board of Elections runs registration, mail ballots, polling places, and the count.
County
Bucks County Board of Elections
The Board also warns that unsolicited election mail and third-party calls circulate each cycle
— verify anything questionable by phone.
Commonwealth
PA voter services
Registration status, mail ballot application, and polling place lookup.
Who represents me
Find your legislator
Legislative districts split municipalities, so a township can sit in two House districts. Use the
official lookup for your exact address.
Common questions
Bucks County voting answers
When is the next election in Bucks County? The 2026 General Election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
What is the voter registration deadline in Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania closes voter registration 15 days before each election. For the 2026 general election on November 3, the deadline is October 19, 2026. Mailed forms must be received by that date — postmarks do not count.
When does a Pennsylvania mail ballot have to be returned? Completed mail-in and civilian absentee ballots must be received by the county election office by 8:00 p.m. on election day. A postmark is not enough — a ballot that arrives after 8:00 p.m. is not counted, so late in the cycle it is safer to hand-deliver it to the Board of Elections.
Where do I find my polling place in Bucks County? Look up your polling place through the Bucks County Board of Elections at buckscounty.gov, or the state's polling place finder at pavoterservices.pa.gov. Polling places can change between elections, so confirm each cycle rather than assuming. The Board of Elections can be reached at 215-348-6154.
Keep going
Related civic pages