First-Time Voters Provisions And Voter ID Requirements

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. (October 14, 2021) – As a result of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), if you are voting in an election district for the first time, you will be asked to present an approved form of identification before you sign the pollbook. Approved forms of identification include:

Photo identification (must be valid):

• PA driver’s license or ID card issued by PennDOT
• ID issued by U.S. government
• ID issued by any Commonwealth of Pennsylvania agency
• U.S. passport
• U.S. Armed Forces ID
• Student ID
• Employee ID

Non-photo identification (must include your name and address):

• Voter identification card issued by the Voter Registration Commission
• Non-photo ID issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• Non-photo ID issued by the U.S. government
• Firearm permit
• Current bank statement
• Current paycheck
• Government check

Once you have provided approved identification, you will be asked to sign your name in the pollbook and be allowed to vote if the signature is found to be authentic.

If you are unable or unwilling to provide one of the above approved forms of ID, you may vote by a provisional ballot. To find additional information that would be helpful for first-time voters, visit the Votes Pa website at www.votespa.com (Voting in PA - First Time Voters).

No other voter will be asked to produce an ID since the Commonwealth Court ruled several years ago that the photo identification provision for voting purposes for all voters to be unconstitutional. 

For information on voting in Franklin County, watch a demonstration and/or instructional video on voting a digital scan paper ballot using a DS200 Precinct Counter at www.votespa.com (Voting in PA – Voting Systems Demos – Franklin County). You can also find additional election information on the county’s website, www.franklincountypa.gov.

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