Pennsylvania

Pa. primary election 2025: How to request, fill out and return your mail ballot

Published

1 year ago

April 20, 2025

Pa. primary election 2025: How to request, fill out and return your mail ballot

From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know!

This year, Pennsylvania’s primary day is May 20. All registered voters in the commonwealth can either vote by mail ballot or in person. Voting by mail has been an option for all Pennsylvania voters since 2020.

If you choose to vote by mail, here is everything you need to know — from deadlines to how to fill out your ballot and more.

When is the deadline to request a Pa. mail ballot?

You need to request your ballot by 5 p.m., May 13.

Another important deadline: You must register to vote by May 5. You can check your voter registration status online.

If you missed the deadline to request a mail ballot and cannot vote in person on Election Day because of an emergency, you can request an emergency absentee ballot.

How do I request a Pa. mail ballot?

You can request a mail ballot online. You can also download the application — available in English, Spanish and traditional Chinese — and either mail it or submit it in person to your local county election office.

You’ll need your PennDOT ID number or Pennsylvania driver’s license number, or the last four digits of your Social Security Number, to apply. Here’s more information about the identification you’ll need.

Another option: You can go to your county election office and request, fill out and submit your mail ballot all at once. A surge in voters in Bucks County voting by what’s known as on-demand mail ballot voting led to long lines and a legal challenge in the 2024 election. The Pennsylvania Department of State released guidance in April specifying that county voter services’ offices should ensure everyone in line to vote by on-demand mail ballot voting by 5 p.m. on the last day to request a mail ballot should be accommodated.

Voters with disabilities also have the option of applying for an accessible remote ballot — after first applying for a mail ballot — that can be filled out electronically. This is an option for you to vote privately and securely if you use screen readers or other assistive devices.

The Department of State recommends submitting the request for an accessible remote ballot within 24 hours of submitting your mail ballot request.

Source link

Click to comment

Pennsylvania

It’s back: What is ‘senior assassin’ and why are Pennsylvania police warning against it?

Published

10 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Press Room

It’s back: What is ‘senior assassin’ and why are Pennsylvania police warning against it?

DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — As high school graduation season approaches, so does a rise in teens participating in a popular game known as “senior assassin.”

The Swatara Township Police Department is asking parents to speak with their kids about the risks associated with the game, where students try to “eliminate” each other by spraying each other with water guns or squirt bottles.

“The game is played outside of school hours and away from school property but has been reported to be causing disruptions and posing risks to participants and bystanders alike,” police wrote Tuesday in a news release.

READ MORE | What is the ‘Senior Assassin’ game?

The police department said there have been reports of students playing the game outside of local businesses and alarming the public.

There are online resources that advise students avoid private property and use brightly-colored water guns, police said, but not all students are following those rules.

Police said some students have used paintball guns, which can lead to injuries.

“We urge parents and guardians to speak with their children about the potential risks associated with participating in this game and to discourage them from taking part,” the Swatara Township Police Department wrote. “The safety of students and community members is our top priority, and we must work together to ensure a safe and respectful environment for everyone.”

Another Pennsylvania police department out of Bucks County, the Buckingham Township Police Department, said the game sometimes results in 911 calls reporting “armed subjects.”

“In case you are unfamiliar, Senior Assassin is a game that involves high school students ‘stalking’ and ‘shooting’ each other with water guns in an attempt to be the last senior standing,” Buckingham Township police wrote. “We have heard that some students are using Nerf guns or silly string. Think of this game as ‘hide and seek.’”

The Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department also spoke out about the game back in 2023, warning that students sometimes use water pistole that could easily be confused for real firearms.

“This behavior, though intentionally innocent, could easily be perceived, reported, or confronted as suspicious behavior by unknowing persons and outcomes could have serious consequences,” the police department had said.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | ‘Senior Assassination’ game among high schoolers concerns police in Lancaster County

While the Buckingham Township Police Department said it does not condone the game, it offered the following safety tips for students who might decide to play anyway:

Do not use realistic-looking weapons; use clearly identifiable, brightly colored water guns.
Do not wear masks or behave in ways that would make a reasonable person to believe you are a threat.
Avoid trespassing on private property or playing in public spaces, especially at night.
Immediately comply with any police officer’s instructions and stop playing if instructed to do so.

Source link