Vote by Mail Outside of Pennsylvania
Voting by mail means you request and receive a ballot in the mail — fill it out, and return it before or on election day. Remember: College students have the right to register to vote at the address they consider the place where they live — whether that’s their family's home or the place where they attend school. According to the PA Department of State, you can only be registered and vote in one location.
And remember, in most states, you MUST be registered before you can request a ballot.
The regulations around mail-in or absentee voting vary from state to state, but most states allow for mail-in voting if certain conditions are met. For example, your state may require you to have a valid excuse to vote absentee. Acceptable excuses might include:
- Being unable to get to your polling place due to illness, injury, or disability
- Being on business travel or vacation outside of your county or city of residence on election day
- Being a student at an out-of-state college or university
FYI, while vote-by-mail and vote absentee are often used interchangeably, there actually is a difference between the two systems. If you want to dig into this, let the League of Women Voters break it down for you.
Make sure you follow your state’s deadlines for requesting and returning your absentee or mail-in ballot. See your state’s absentee voting deadlines and note the dates for when your ballot must be postmarked or received. It’s an important distinction.
Casting your ballot by mail outside of Pennsylvania
If you want to cast your ballot outside of Pennsylvania, find out what vote by mail options your preferred state offers. Pick your state from the list offered to learn more about the absentee/mail-in rules in your state.
