Pennsylvania Overseas Voting Guide
If Pennsylvania is your last U.S. residence, this is where your ballot comes from — no matter what country you live in now, and however long you have been away. The deadlines below are for the November 3, 2026 federal general election.
Pennsylvania deadlines at a glance
Pennsylvania deadlines at a glance
Election Day
Nov 3, 2026
Request your ballot
Passed3 voter types ↓Deadlines as early as
Oct 27, 2026
at 5 PM Pennsylvania time
Received by Oct 27, 2026 at 5 PM Pennsylvania time.
Varies by voter type — see below
Return your voted ballot
Passed3 voter types ↓Deadlines as early as
Nov 2, 2026
at 11:59 PM local time
Sent by Nov 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM local time.
Varies by voter type — see below
These dates and process details come from the Federal Voting Assistance Program's 2026–27 Voting Assistance Guide, the U.S. Department of Defense's official source for Pennsylvania. Deadlines can change after it is published, so confirm anything you are close to with your local election official.
Requesting your ballot
Request your Pennsylvania ballot
One federal form registers you and requests your absentee ballot. Overseas voters file it again every election year, even if you voted last time.
Pennsylvania asks new registrants for the last four digits of your Social Security number or a state-issued ID or driver's license number.
Ballot request deadline: October 27, 2026 at 5 PM Pennsylvania time. Uniformed service members and their families and citizens overseas who intend to return can still request a ballot until November 2 at 11:59 PM Pennsylvania time.
Use the backup ballotRequest your ballotearliest Oct 27, 2026 at 5 PM Pennsylvania time3 voter types
Pennsylvania sets this deadline differently depending on the kind of overseas voter you are.
Uniformed service members and their families
Received by Nov 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pennsylvania time
Citizens overseas who intend to return
Received by Nov 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pennsylvania time
Citizens overseas who are uncertain if they will return
Received by Oct 27, 2026 at 5 PM Pennsylvania time
Receiving your ballot
Once Pennsylvania accepts your form, it sends you your ballot. Federal law required states to send ballots to overseas voters by September 19, 2026 for requests already on file. A request made now is sent once it is processed.
What your Pennsylvania ballot email looks like
- From
stsvcuocavaballot2@pa.gov, for both emails.- Subject
- The first begins
[SEND SECURE] Absentee Ballot forand the secondAbsentee Ballot Instructions for. Each goes on with your name, last name first, and a tracking ID. - Inside
- Two emails. The first is encrypted, with your ballot attached as a password-protected PDF. The second has the instructions and the password to open it. Wait for both.
Not in your inbox? Search your whole mailbox, spam and junk included, for stsvcuocavaballot2@pa.gov. What to do if it still has not arrived
From the Pennsylvania Department of State, October 2026.
Still waiting for your ballot?
Let us know. We track delivery issues and raise them with election officials.
Returning your Pennsylvania ballot
Pennsylvania accepts a voted ballot by post only. International mail can take two to three weeks each way, so post it as early as you can rather than close to the deadline.
Return your ballot according to the instructions that came with it — the envelopes, the signature and any witness or ID requirement are set by your state. If anything is missing or you are not sure what they want, your local election official is the person to ask.
2 ways to return it — choose one
Post
Post your voted ballot in the return envelope from your packet. International postage from your country applies, and delivery takes two to three weeks from most places.
Uniformed service members and their families
Sent by Nov 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM local time
Received by Nov 10, 2026 at 5 PM Pennsylvania time
Citizens overseas who intend to return
Sent by Nov 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM local time
Received by Nov 10, 2026 at 5 PM Pennsylvania time
Citizens overseas who are uncertain if they will return
Received by Nov 3, 2026 at 8 PM Pennsylvania time
By courier — DHL, FedEx or UPS
Faster, costs moreA courier takes a few days instead of a few weeks and gives you tracking. It costs more than international postage, and how much depends on the country you are sending from.
Same deadlines as returning by post:
Uniformed service members and their families
Sent by Nov 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM local time
Received by Nov 10, 2026 at 5 PM Pennsylvania time
Citizens overseas who intend to return
Sent by Nov 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM local time
Received by Nov 10, 2026 at 5 PM Pennsylvania time
Citizens overseas who are uncertain if they will return
Received by Nov 3, 2026 at 8 PM Pennsylvania time
After you send it
- Check it arrived
Pennsylvania's ballot lookup shows whether your voted ballot came back.
Additional resources
The official places to check your ballot, reach the office that handles it, and read the rules in full.
Pennsylvania overseas voting questions
What is the Pennsylvania ballot deadline for overseas voters?
As early as November 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Varies by voter type.
What if my Pennsylvania ballot has not arrived?
If your ballot has not arrived and your deadline is close, the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot is the federal backup ballot. You can fill it in for federal offices and send it now; if your real ballot turns up later, complete and return that too — only one of them is counted. Whether it can also register you in Pennsylvania is not stated in the federal guide — ask your local election official if you are not yet registered.
How will my Pennsylvania ballot arrive?
Your Pennsylvania ballot comes in two emails, both from stsvcuocavaballot2@pa.gov. The first is encrypted, with your ballot attached as a password-protected PDF; its subject line begins "[SEND SECURE] Absentee Ballot for", followed by your name and a tracking ID. The second has the instructions and the password to open your ballot; its subject line begins "Absentee Ballot Instructions for".
Can I email or fax my ballot back in Pennsylvania?
No. Pennsylvania accepts a voted ballot by post only.
Can I vote in Pennsylvania if I am not sure I will return?
Yes. Pennsylvania calls overseas citizens who are uncertain whether they will return Federal Voters. You are not added to the state's voter roll, because Pennsylvania does not treat you as a resident, but you can request a ballot directly and vote for federal offices — U.S. House.
How do I check that my Pennsylvania ballot was counted?
Pennsylvania offers an online ballot-status lookup where you can check that your ballot was sent and that your voted ballot came back. Here's the link: Check your Pennsylvania ballot status (opens in a new tab)
Who is my local election official in Pennsylvania?
Your local election official is the county or municipal office that handles registration and ballots for your last U.S. address in Pennsylvania. You can look up their contact details on our election-office finder.
More questions?
Our team answers questions from overseas voters every day. Ask us anything this page did not cover.
Ready to request your Pennsylvania ballot?
One form registers you and requests your ballot.