Voter Season Is Here: Three Dates That Decide Whether Your Voice Counts
Updated: Sep 17
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Between now and then, a handful of deadlines will quietly decide who gets to participate. This is your reminder to get ahead of every one of them.
The dates that matter in Pennsylvania
October 19, 2026: Last day to register to vote, or to update your registration if you have moved or changed your name.
October 27, 2026: Last day to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot.
November 3, 2026: Election Day. Polls are open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and completed mail ballots must be received by your county election office by 8:00 PM. A postmark is not enough.
Why we are asking
Defending democracy is the first of the three pillars that guide the Urban League: Defend Democracy, Demand Diversity, Defeat Poverty. This past year, we put those words into practice in Harrisburg, in public statements on threats to voting rights, and in coalitions fighting for fair school funding. But no testimony, no statement, and no coalition replaces the single most powerful act available to every one of us: showing up to vote.
The people elected this November will make decisions about housing, schools, jobs, and public safety in the neighborhoods we serve.
If you have a record, you may still be able to vote
This is one of the most misunderstood rules in Pennsylvania, and the confusion alone keeps people home. Our Office of Reentry Programs & Services has walked 755 people through the work of coming home. Voting is part of coming home too. In Pennsylvania, you can register and vote if you are:
On probation or released on parole, including if you are living in a halfway house.
Under house arrest, whatever your conviction status.
Serving or finished with a misdemeanor sentence. A misdemeanor has no effect on your ability to register and vote, incarcerated or not, unless it was a violation of the Pennsylvania Election Code.
Home after a felony conviction, or scheduled to be released before Election Day.
Held awaiting trial and not serving a sentence for a felony conviction.
You cannot register and vote if you are confined for a felony conviction through Election Day, or if you were convicted of violating the Pennsylvania Election Code within the last four years. One detail that trips people up: you cannot use a correctional facility or a halfway house as the home address on your registration, but you can use it as the address where your mail ballot is sent. The full rules are on the Pennsylvania Department of State's page for justice-involved voters.
Do this today
Check your registration. Do it at vote.pa.gov. If anything has changed since you last voted, update it before October 19.
Decide how you will vote. In person on November 3, or by mail. If you want a mail ballot, request it well before October 27.
Bring someone with you. Register a neighbor, a coworker, or a first-time voter. Turnout grows one conversation at a time.
The Urban League does not tell anyone how to vote. We work to make sure everyone can. Start with the first date on the list, and do not let October 19 pass you by.
Momentum Newsletter: September 2026 | Issue 9 | Impact
Thank you for breaking down the voter registration deadlines so clearly! It’s crucial to stay informed. Speaking of making our voices heard, do you think gaming like run3 can help engage younger voters?