Pennsylvania voters preparing for the 2026 midterm election are increasingly asking two questions: Is there early voting in PA, and who is winning the battle for Congress now?
While Pennsylvania does not offer traditional early voting like some states, voters can cast ballots before Election Day through the state's mail ballot process. Several important voting deadlines are approaching, including the Oct. 19 voter registration deadline and the Oct. 27 deadline to request a mail ballot.
As voting gets underway ahead of the Nov. 3 election, polls, election forecasts and prediction markets continue to show Democrats with an advantage nationally, though several closely watched Senate races could ultimately determine which party controls Congress.
Is there early voting in PA?
Pennsylvania does not have traditional early voting where voters cast ballots on voting machines over several weeks before Election Day. However, voters can effectively vote early by requesting, completing and returning a mail ballot before Nov. 3.
Many Pennsylvania counties also allow voters to request a mail ballot in person, complete it and return it during the same visit, a process often referred to as "on-demand" mail voting.
Does Pennsylvania have early voting?
Pennsylvania does not offer the same type of early in-person voting available in states such as Georgia, Florida or North Carolina. Instead, voters who want to cast ballots before Election Day generally do so through the state's no-excuse mail ballot system.
For many voters, the result is essentially the same: their vote is cast before Election Day arrives.
What are the Pennsylvania mail ballot deadlines?
Pennsylvania voters have several important dates to know before the Nov. 3 midterm election:
- Nov. 3, 2026: Election Day.
- Oct. 19, 2026: Last day to register to vote.
- Oct. 19, 2026: Suggested last day to request a mail ballot.
- Oct. 27, 2026: Deadline to request a mail-in or absentee ballot.
- Nov. 3, 2026: Mail ballots must be received by county election offices by 8 p.m.
Who's winning the 2026 midterms?
Democrats continue to lead national congressional polling and remain favored to win the House, according to recent election forecasts.
The latest RealClearPolling generic congressional ballot average showed Democrats leading Republicans by 8.3 percentage points, 50.2% to 41.9%. Call the Map and 535 forecasts also gave Democrats an edge in both the House and Senate, while prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi likewise favored Democrats, especially in the race for the House.
The Senate remains much closer. Republicans are defending a 53-seat majority, and competitive races in Texas, Ohio, Maine, Michigan, Iowa and Alaska could ultimately determine which party controls Congress after the Nov. 3 election.
When is the 2026 midterm election?
The 2026 midterm election is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are on the ballot, along with 34 Senate seats and numerous state and local races nationwide.
Most results will begin coming in after polls close on Election Day, although some closely contested races could take longer to call if margins remain tight.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Is there early voting in PA? Who's winning the 2026 midterms now?
