Election Day: Tuesday, November 3 | Polls open 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Mail ballots due to your county by 8:00 PM
On Tuesday, November 3, Pennsylvania voters will choose a governor, all 17 members of the U.S. House, all 203 state House members, and half of the state Senate. The people elected will write the next state budget, shape the 2027 legislative session, and decide many of the policies that affect nonprofits and the communities you serve.
Nonprofits are among the most trusted messengers on voting. Please make your own plan to vote, and help your staff, volunteers, and clients do the same. Below are some considerations and resources for nonprofits interested in exercising their right to engage in civic activity in their communities.
Questions about nonpartisan civic engagement? Email Anna Keilly, PANO’s Senior Manager of Policy & Advocacy.
BEFORE YOU VOTE
- Find your polling place at pa.gov. The registration deadline has passed, and PA does not offer Election Day registration.
- Have a mail ballot? Sign and date the outer envelope with today’s date, and make sure your county election office receives it by 8 PM on November 3. A postmark does not count.
- Changed your mind about voting by mail? Bring your unreturned mail ballot to your polling place to be voided, and vote in person.
- Facing an emergency? Voters with a sudden illness, disability, or unexpected absence can request an emergency absentee ballot until 8 PM on Election Day.
- Give your staff time to vote. Adapt this sample paid time-off policy for Election Day.
NEW: PANO’S 2026 ELECTION GUIDE
Many Pennsylvania nonprofits are fielding new questions about how this election will unfold and what role they can play. Our new guide answers both, bringing state and national resources together in one place. Inside, you’ll find:
- Key Pennsylvania election dates. The deadlines that remain, what to do with a mail ballot that hasn’t been returned yet, and voting tips you can share directly with clients, members, and volunteers, including a co-brandable voting toolkit you can add your logo to.
- What’s on the ballot. A nonpartisan overview of the races for governor, U.S. House, and the General Assembly, where control of both chambers is considered competitive, and why the results matter for the 2027 session and the next budget cycle.
- Talking points – so you can discuss the election with confidence. Research-tested messaging to help you share accurate voting information without discouraging turnout, plus a scenario booklet to help your team prepare for possible Election Day disruptions.
- Rules of the road. A clear breakdown of what 501(c)(3)s can and cannot do, and the latest on the Johnson Amendment.
- The policy landscape this fall. What the Supreme Court’s September ruling means for mail voting in Pennsylvania, how to handle voter eligibility questions as federal enforcement on noncitizen voting intensifies, and the 2030 Census comment deadline.
- The 2026 Voter Engagement Guide. New from the National Council of Nonprofits and Nonprofit VOTE, with expanded guidance on candidate questionnaires, a new “Why Vote?” tool, and a recording + slides from their October 1 webinar on putting it into practice.
- A to-do list for your organization. Practical next steps, from recruiting poll workers (Pennsylvania needs about 45,000 at every election, and the work is paid!) to inviting every candidate in your district to visit your programs.
STAYING NONPARTISAN
The Johnson Amendment remains in effect, meaning 501(c)(3) nonprofits can help people vote, but cannot support or oppose any candidate or party. That applies through the final days of the campaign and after November 3.
A quick reminder of what nonprofits CAN do:
- Register voters and remind people of deadlines
- Share how, when, and where to vote
- Host candidate forums that invite all qualified candidates
- Publish nonpartisan candidate questionnaires covering all candidates
- Take positions on ballot questions and legislation
- Recruit poll workers and nonpartisan election volunteers
And what nonprofits CANNOT do:
- Endorse or oppose a candidate or party
- Donate money or staff time to a campaign
- Rate or rank candidates, or signal a preferred candidate
- Use newsletters, email, or social media to favor a candidate
- Target voter outreach based on expected party preference
- Let staff campaign on the organization’s time or resources
Read up on where things stand with the Johnson Amendment in PANO’s latest update here.
A NOTE ABOUT PROTECTING YOUR ORGANIZATION
With the IRS Whistleblower Alert and the House Oversight Task Force both focused on nonprofits, clear documentation of nonpartisan practices is your best protection.
- Apply outreach consistently across every community you serve, and never target voter outreach by expected party preference.
- Keep records of every candidate invited to a forum, site visit, or questionnaire.
- Remind staff that personal political activity must happen on their own time, without organizational email, social media accounts, or other resources.
- Review outside materials before sharing them, so your communications stay focused on how, when, and where to vote.
- Explain eligibility clearly. If you register or assist voters, make sure staff and volunteers know that only U.S. citizens may register and vote, and point people to official sources such as pa.gov and their county election office.
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Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
