600K Pennsylvania Voters Apply for Mail Ballots

The Pennsylvania Department of State announced April 12 that more than 587,000 voters already have applied for mail-in ballots for the May 18 municipal primary election, and more than 18,000 voters have applied for absentee ballots.

“These impressive application numbers show that mail-in voting has become a popular option for Pennsylvanians, valued for its convenience, accessibility and security. People like being able to vote from their own homes and on their own schedule,” Acting Secretary of State Veronica W. Degraffenreid said. “If mail ballot applications continue at this pace, we could be on track to set a record for participation in a municipal primary.”

Voting by mail ballot without having to provide an excuse is relatively new to Pennsylvania. The bipartisan Act 77 of 2019, signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf, represented the first major reforms to the Pennsylvania election law in over 80 years.

Any eligible voter may apply for a mail-in ballot. Applications may be submitted online via the Department of State’s website, votesPA.gov. Paper applications are available for download. Mail-in ballots are due by May 11.