Voting and Elections - Free Library

Voting and Elections

Discover information on voter registration, elections, and the different ways to cast your ballot in Pennsylvania. You'll also find comprehensive guides on understanding your rights as a voter, tips for researching candidates and issues, and basic information on the democratic process and American government. Become an informed and engaged voter!

Voting and Elections

Links

Accessible Voting for Citizens with a Disability
Voters with a disability may get help voting. Every polling place in Pennsylvania must have at least one accessible voting system.
Ballotpedia
Ballotpedia is an online encyclopedia covering elections at the federal, state, local, and territorial levels of government. It contains neutral, accurate, and verifiable information on government officials and the offices they hold, political issues, and public policy.
Become a Poll Worker in Philadelphia
Submit your information to be considered for a Poll Worker position on Election Day.
Candidates for Office in Philadelphia
The Philadelphia City Commissioners maintains a list of current candidates and offices that are up for election.
City Council of Philadelphia
Read up on Philadelphia City Council news and initiatives, find your Council representative, locate the Council's meeting calendar, and learn more about the sitting Members and how to contact them.
Congressional Districts Map
Find your congressional representative by entering your address or clicking a district on this interactive map.
FactCheck.org
FactCheck.org is a nonpartisan, nonprofit project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania dedicated to monitoring the factual accuracy of statements made by major U.S. political figures and helping voters make informed decisions.
Federal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission is the independent regulatory agency charged with administering and enforcing the federal campaign finance law. This site includes data on campaign contributions to candidates, along with maps that show where contributions originated.
Find Your Legislator
Find your state and federal legislators by searching your address or county on the Pennsylvania General Assembly's website.
Find Your Polling Place
The Pennsylvania Department of State's search tool will help you locate your polling location for Election Day.
Find Your Voter Registration Status
You may search for your voter registration status with your name, driver’s license, or ID. Your party affiliation and polling place address will be displayed once you have provided an exact match with the information on your voter registration record.
Language Access Resources
The United States Election Assistance Commission provides a variety of federal, state, and local jurisdiction resources related to language access for voters.
Mail-in and Absentee Ballot Guide
Access the Pennsylvania Department of State's resource guide for all information regarding mail-in and absentee ballots.
Pennsylvania Online Voter Registration
Apply online to become a registered voter in Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia County Voting System
This page tells you how to vote in person on Election Day in Philadelphia County.
The Committee of Seventy
The Committee of Seventy is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that focuses on a variety of issues affecting voters in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. Their website provides extensive voter guides and ballot-builder tools to help prepare for Election Day.
The Presidential Election Process Explained
The Library of Congress provides historical context to questions like, "Who can be president? How are candidates nominated? What is the Electoral College?"
Upcoming Elections in Pennsylvania
Check upcoming dates for elections, voter registration deadlines, and mail-in and absentee ballot cutoff dates in Pennsylvania.
Vote Smart
Vote Smart allows voters to scrutinize candidates voting records, issue positions, interest group ratings, public statements, campaign finances, and biographical information.
Voting and Election Laws
Learn how campaign contribution limits, accessibility rules, and other federal election laws help protect your voting rights and the election process.
Why Voting is Important
“Voting is your civic duty.” This is a pretty common sentiment, especially each November as Election Day approaches. But what does it really mean? And what does it mean for Americans in particular?

Presidents of the United States by explore

Under the United States Constitution, the President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States. As chief of the executive branch and face of the federal government as a whole, the presidency is the highest political office in the United States by influence and recognition.

Madison's gift : five partnerships that built America cover

Washington's revolution : the making of America's first leader cover

Lincoln's greatest case : the river, the bridge, and the making of America cover

Obama's time : a history cover

Celebrity in chief : a history of the presidents and the culture of stardom cover

George W. Bush cover

View the full list

U.S. Elections and Politics by explore

This list offers a comprehensive exploration of the intricate world of American elections and politics. Covering a wide range of topics, from historical perspectives to contemporary issues, these titles provide valuable insights into the complex web of the U.S. political system.

36 days : the complete chronicle of the 2000 presidential election crisis cover

Campaigns : a century of presidential races from the photo archives of the New York Times cover

Centennial crisis : the disputed election of 1876 cover

Fraud of the century : Rutherford B. Hayes, Samuel Tilden, and the stolen election of 1876 cover

Running on race : racial politics in presidential campaigns, 1960-2000 cover

presidential campaigns :from george washington to george w. bush cover

View the full list

Blog Posts

28 Free Library locations will serve as polling places for the April 23, 2024 Primary Election

28 Libraries Will Serve As Polling Places for the April 23, 2024 Primary Election

Primary Election Day is Tuesday, April 23, 2024 , and 28 of our neighborhood libraries will serve as designated voting locations. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Remember: anyone in line by 8:00 p.m. is…

30 Free Library locations will serve as polling places for the November 7, 2023 General Election

30 Libraries Will Serve As Polling Places for the November 7, 2023 Municipal Election

Municipal Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, 2023 , and 30 of our neighborhood libraries will serve as designated voting locations. Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Remember: anyone in line by 8 p.m. will be…

Head to your nearest Free Library branch to fill out an application in person or register to vote online.

Don't Forget to Register to Vote by Monday, October 23

Did you know that Pennsylvania makes it easy for you to register to vote? You can find voter registration forms at public libraries, state park offices, state-run Veterans Homes, and many other places. This is part of a big effort to…

32 Libraries Will Serve as Polling Places for the May 16, 2023 Primary Election

32 Libraries Will Serve as Polling Places for the May 16, 2023 Primary Election

Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 16, 2023, and 32 of our neighborhood libraries will serve as designated voting locations. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Remember: anyone in line by 8:00 p.m. will be able to vote, so…

35 Library Locations Serving as Polling Places

35 Library Locations Will Serve as Polling Places for the November 8, 2022 General Election

General Election Day is Tuesday, November 8, 2022 and many of our neighborhood libraries will again serve as designated voting locations. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.; anyone in line by 8:00 p.m. will be able to vote.…

Vote

36 Free Library Locations Will Serve as Polling Places for the Tuesday, May 17 Primary Election

Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 17, 2022 and many of our neighborhood libraries will again serve as designated voting locations. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.; anyone in line by 8:00 p.m. will be able to vote. Most…

35 Free Library Locations Will Serve as Polling Places for November 2, 2021 General Election

General Election Day is Tuesday, November 2, 2021 and many of our neighborhood libraries will again serve as designated voting locations. These locations will be closed for library services and will only be…

37 Free Library locations will serve as polling places on May 18.

37 Free Library Locations to Serve as Polling Places for May 18 Primary Election

The primary election is coming up on Tuesday, May 18, and many of our neighborhood libraries will again serve as designated voting locations. These libraries will be closed for library services and will be open only for voting. Polls…

Need to update your voter registration? May 3 is the deadline!

Information and Resources to Vote in the May 2021 Primary

Whether you’re a first-time voter or someone who’s experienced some transitions since you last voted, now is the time to check your voter status at votesPA.com/status . Do you live in a new neighborhood? Has your name…

Suzanna Urminska installing the Making Her Mark exhibition.

Making Her Mark Spotlight: Poetry and Movement Building

by Suzanna Urminska and Sam Perduta Our words carry power—whether as balm or as burnish, our words have the power to come together to form poetry that recalls and reconnects a range of human experiences both personal and…

Chef Jena Harris of BunnyHopPHL, connect strategies to the present while drawing on the rich history of mutual aid and radical self care.

Reimagining a Recipe for Radical Self Care

by Jena Harris and Suzanna Urminska "In every race, in every nation and in every clime in every period of history there is always an eager-eyed group of youthful patriots who seriously set themselves to right the wrongs done to…

The Free Library is offering creative, digital ways to experience exhibit topics and artifacts.

Online Exhibition Experiences to Welcome in the New Year

While the days of immersing ourselves at an in-person exhibit at a favorite gallery or museum are still out of reach for so many of us, as we continue to follow health guidelines to help manage the spread of COVID-19, online versions…

Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote

Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote Digital Exhibition Launches

I still remember as a child, coming along as my mother cast her ballot. Standing side by side with my mother, the first person in my family to vote in the U.S., left me with wide-eyed curiosity. The wait in line culminating in a thick…

Your voice is important, on Election Day and beyond. Know your rights.

Know Your Voting Rights on Election Day

With the Election right around the corner, making sure that our voices are heard is now more important than ever. Knowing your voting rights allows you to spot, report and block voter disenfranchisement efforts that may occur in your…

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3!

37 Free Library Locations to Serve as Polling Places in 2020 Presidential Election

If you do not plan to vote by mail, please plan to vote at the polls on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3 ! Despite COVID-19, many of our neighborhood libraries will again be designated as voting locations. These libraries will be…

The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is one week before the election, October 27 by 5:00 p.m.

Your Complete Guide to Mail-In Voting

With Election Day coming up on November 3, it is critical that all citizens are aware of how to make their voices safely and properly heard. This post will cover the basics of mail-in voting and how you can make sure your vote counts…

A completed application for a mail-in ballot must be received by the Philadelphia County Registrar of Voters Office by October 27, 2020.

Voting by Mail? Avoid "Naked Ballots"!

Updated Tuesday, October 20, 2020 12:15 p.m. Spanish and Chinese translations have been added to this blog post. In the real world, small technical details count for a lot. How many checks were never cashed because the person who wrote…

Voting in the Pandemic. Yong Kim/Staff Photographer, The Philadelphia Inquirer

Making Her Mark: Philadelphia Women Fight for the Vote Exhibition Opens Fall 2020

As we find ourselves weeks away from Election Day, consider this question: Who was the first person in your family to vote? The stories of Philadelphia women who built and sustained movements dedicated to voting rights is…