Philadelphia Election Day Guide: Tuesday, November 3 — Polls, Mail Ballots, and What to Bring
Election Day in Philadelphia is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Here is the plain version: where to go, when, and what to bring. (Registration for this election closed October 19, so this guide is for registered voters.)
Voting in person
- Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you are in line by 8 p.m., stay in line — you can still vote.
- Find your polling place before you leave: check it at vote.phila.gov. Your polling place is set by your home address; voting at the wrong one slows everything down.
- What to bring: if this is your first time voting at that polling place, bring an ID — a photo ID (like a driver’s license) or a non-photo ID that shows your name and address, like a utility bill or bank statement. If you have voted at that polling place before, no ID is required.
Still holding a mail ballot?
Your completed ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3 — a postmark does not count. At this point, hand-deliver it instead of mailing it:
- Satellite Election Offices and City Hall Room 140 — open Monday–Friday 9–5 and Saturday–Sunday 10–4 for one-stop return.
- Drop boxes around the city — locations at vote.phila.gov/ballot-drop-off.
Changed your mind and want to vote in person instead? Bring your mail ballot and both envelopes to your polling place, hand them in, and vote in person. Without them, you will be asked to vote a provisional ballot instead.
(Requesting a mail ballot in the first place has its own deadline — Tuesday, October 27 at 5 p.m. Our mail-ballot guide covers that side.)
After you vote
Your benefits questions do not wait for an election cycle. Take the free 2-minute check to see the Philadelphia programs you may qualify for, or have us build your step-by-step guide free.
Philadelphia Benefits is not a government agency and is not part of the election process. Official voting information: vote.phila.gov.
