Pennsylvania’s 2026 general election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 3, putting Election Day on the calendar for voters across the state. The ballot will include the race for governor, where Josh Shapiro is seeking another term, along with lieutenant governor, the Pennsylvania House, half of the state Senate and all 17 congressional districts.
That date is why people are searching now: Nov. 3 is the day the votes are counted, but the earlier deadlines already matter. Voter registration for the upcoming election closed Oct. 19, and requests for a mail or absentee ballot were due by 5 p.m. on Oct. 27. A county election office must receive a mail ballot application by that deadline, and any completed mail ballot has to arrive by 8 p.m. on Election Day to count.
Shapiro, a Democratic incumbent, will appear on the ballot alongside Stacy Garrity, a Republican state treasurer, and Ken Krawchuk, a Libertarian. That gives voters a clear choice at the top of the ticket, but the rest of the ballot is just as consequential because control of the Pennsylvania House and half of the state Senate is also at stake. In a year with a full slate of congressional races, Nov. 3 is the date that will shape both state and federal power from Pennsylvania.
The fixed date also leaves little room for confusion over what comes next. For voters who missed the registration and mail-ballot deadlines, Election Day is still the last chance to cast an in-person ballot on Nov. 3, while counties continue to sort through ballots that arrive on time. Ballot contents can also vary by county, with local questions possible in Allegheny County and Philadelphia, adding another layer to a ballot already carrying statewide weight.
