If you're a registered voter in Montgomery County who is going to be out of the area on Election Day, Nov. 6, you can still vote by casting an absentee ballot.

To obtain an absentee ballot, you must submit an application to the county Election Board. The application can be downloaded here, or you can obtain a hard copy at your local municipal building. Libraries and state liquor stores also have absentee ballot applications on hand.

Send your completed application via U.S. Mail to:

Election Board  
Montgomery County Court House  P.O. Box 311
Norristown, PA 19401

If sending your application by UPS or FedEx, use the following address:

Election Board  
One Montgomery Plaza, Suite 602
425 Swede Street
Norristown, PA 19401

Your application must be received by the county election board by 5:00 p.m. next Tuesday, October 30. You must mail an application with your original signature on it. Email and faxed copies will not be accepted.

Submitting an absentee ballot in person

You may also visit the Election Board office in person to submit your application. You will receive your ballot at that time and may then vote or take the ballot home with you.

If you mail your application in time for the deadline, the election board will then mail your absentee ballot to you. You may include a prepaid overnight FedEx or UPS envelope with your application if you would like the Election Board to send your absentee ballot through those companies.

Your completed absentee ballot must be received by the election board by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 2. Ballots may be mailed or sent via courier in the same manner as the application. Only voters themselves may hand deliver their absentee ballots to the Election Board office.

ID required for absentee ballots

Unlike those voting at polling places on Nov. 6, those wishing to cast absentee ballots in Pennsylvania this year must provide a form of identification. A list of acceptable forms of ID is available from the Montgomery County Voter Services department.

Military voters

Members of the military have additional time to complete the absentee ballot process. Military voters may apply for an absentee ballot up until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Their ballots must be received by the election board by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 13. If mailed, military ballots must be postmarked no later than Monday, Nov. 5.