Which party controls the state government?
Divided government
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's Republican attorney general declined to sue the Trump administration, so Governor Shapiro filed the suits himself. What is at stake November 3.
Updated October 3, 2026. Every figure is sourced and dated.
- 4
- Pennsylvania guides
- 56
- rules tracked
What November 3 Decided
Results as certified by the Secretary of State. Nothing here is a projection; each office reads "Not yet certified" until the state certifies it.
- Governor Not yet certified Josh Shapiro (D), Stacy Garrity (R)
Who Runs Pennsylvania
The Legislature meets next on January 5, 2027.
- Governor Josh Shapiro On the ballot for a second term
- Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis On the ballot for lieutenant governor
- Attorney General Dave Sunday Not on the ballot until 2028
- Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt Appointed; not an elected office
- President Pro Tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate Kim Ward Not on the November 3, 2026 ballot; her term runs to 2028
- Speaker of the Pennsylvania House Joanna McClinton On the ballot for her House seat
Who Votes in Pennsylvania
An estimated 69.7% of Pennsylvania's adult citizens voted in November 2024, plus or minus 2.3 points, against 65.3% nationwide.
- 13.1 million Residents, July 1, 2024
- 10.2 million Adults 18 and over (estimated)
- 9.8 million Adult citizens (estimated)
- 7.4 million Registered to vote (estimated)
- 6.8 million Voted (estimated)
- 7,058,732 Ballots counted for president
Pennsylvania
United States
- Voted
- Registered, did not vote
- Not registered
Shares of adult citizens. Registered but did not vote: Pennsylvania 6%, United States 8.3%. Registered and voted are estimates from the Census Current Population Survey, November 2024 (Table 4a); the margin of error for Pennsylvania's turnout is plus or minus 2.3 points and for its registration 2.3 points. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates. Presidential count: Federal Election Commission, from each state's certified canvass.
Donald Trump carried Pennsylvania by 1.7 points in the certified count, 3,543,308 votes to 3,423,042.
Your Pennsylvania Rules
The answers people look up first, chosen by search demand from our 50-state datasets. Each is dated and links to the source and to every state's answer.
- Does Pennsylvania give homeowners a homestead exemption? Only where local governments choose Programs the Lincoln Institute lists: School District Exemption for Homestead Property; County or City Homestead Exemption (Act 50).
- How much notice must a landlord give for unpaid rent? 10 days Fastest lawful eviction: about 38 days from missed rent to removal.
- Does Pennsylvania require background checks on private gun sales? For handguns only Handguns only, checked at the point of sale.
- Is marijuana legal in Pennsylvania? Illegal for adults, medical use allowed Medical use only
- Do you need an ID to vote in person in Pennsylvania? No ID document for most voters Without ID: No ID document at the polls for most voters. Your identity is checked against your registration, usually by signature. A first-time voter who registered by mail may be asked for ID or a document with name and address under federal law.
- How far into pregnancy is abortion legal? 24 weeks Legal until about viability
How Pennsylvania Ranks
Pennsylvania homeowners paid an effective property tax rate of 1.26% of their home's value in 2024, the 12th highest of the 50 states, according to the Tax Foundation.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Iowa | 1.33% |
| Wisconsin | 1.32% |
| New York | 1.3% |
| Pennsylvania | 1.26% |
| Kansas | 1.21% |
| Michigan | 1.19% |
| Rhode Island | 1.12% |
Pennsylvania and the states ranked nearest it. Source: Tax Foundation, Property Taxes by State and County, 2026. Read September 28, 2026.
Every Pennsylvania Guide
4 guides to Pennsylvania law and politics, each sourced and dated.
Elections and Who Holds Power
Your Money, Work and Home
Health and Safety
Guns, Drugs and Criminal Justice
Pennsylvania Rules at a Glance
56 answers from our 50-state datasets. Each card shows when it was last verified and links to the source and to the Pennsylvania guide or every state's answer.
Rule of Law (2)
Is marijuana legal in the state?
Illegal for adults, medical use allowed
Medical use only
Voting (19)
When is the last day to register for November 3, 2026?
In person by Monday, October 19
Deadline before Election Day
Who can vote by mail?
Any voter can ask for a ballot
Are guns banned at polling places?
No clear statewide ban
Do you have to prove citizenship to register?
No document required; you attest
Is ranked choice voting used or banned?
No state law, not in use
Who draws the congressional map?
State legislature
Did the state draw a new congressional map for 2026?
No new map for 2026
Was the state covered by Voting Rights Act preclearance before 2013?
Not covered
Did the 2024 presidential campaigns treat the state as a battleground?
Battleground
Has the state joined the National Popular Vote Compact?
Not joined
How many electoral votes does the state have?
19 electoral votes
10 to 19 electoral votes
Did the state gain or lose House seats after the 2020 census?
Lost 1 seat
Can voters recall state officials?
No recall of state officials
Where is the state's guide to running for office?
Ballotpedia, How to run for office in Pennsylvania
Guide available
When did the state ratify the 19th Amendment?
Ratified June 24, 1919
Before Tennessee, 1919-1920
Who can vote in a party primary?
Closed
Closed: party members only
Can a person with a felony conviction vote in the state?
Lost only while in prison
Do you need an ID to vote in person in the state?
No ID document for most voters
How many people in the state are eligible, registered and voted?
An estimated 69.7% of adult citizens voted in 2024 (plus or minus 2.3 points)
An estimated 60% to 69.9% voted
Immigration (1)
Is the state on the Justice Department’s sanctuary list?
Only a city or county is listed
LGBTQ Rights (4)
Is gender-affirming care for minors banned or protected?
No ban, no shield law
Is conversion therapy banned for minors?
Full ban for minors
Must schools tell parents about a student’s gender identity?
No forced-outing law
Does the state constitution still ban same-sex marriage?
Never had a constitutional ban
Education (1)
Has the state restricted DEI at public colleges?
No statewide restriction
Healthcare (1)
Has the state expanded Medicaid?
Expanded Medicaid
Economy (8)
What is the state's minimum wage?
$7.25 an hour (the federal minimum)
$7.25, the federal floor
Can cities set a higher minimum wage?
Blocked by state law
Can cities require paid sick leave?
No state ban
Is the state a right-to-work state?
No right-to-work law
What would the projected Social Security cut cost a retiree in the state?
About $476 a month
Projected cut at depletion
How much of the state's budget comes from federal money?
39.4% federal money
30% to 40% federal
Does the state tax income, and at what rate?
Flat 3.07%
Flat rate
How high is the property tax on a home in the state?
1.26% of home value, 12th highest of 50
Above the middle (11th to 25th)
Ethics (1)
How much does the state require lobbyists to disclose?
Meaningful spending disclosure
Reproductive Rights (1)
How far into pregnancy is abortion legal?
24 weeks
Legal until about viability
Civil Rights (7)
Does the state have the death penalty?
Has it, executions paused
How does the state's civil forfeiture law grade?
Grade D-
D range
Has the state passed anti-protest laws since 2017?
Bills filed, none enacted
Does the state constitution name a right to privacy?
No explicit clause
Does the state have a consumer data privacy law?
No comprehensive law
How much support does Christian nationalism have in the state?
34% support
30% to 37%
Did the state ratify the Equal Rights Amendment?
Ratified by the deadline
Housing (5)
Can a landlord refuse a housing voucher?
Yes, unless a local law applies
Does the state ban sleeping outside in public places?
No statewide law identified
How much notice must a landlord give for unpaid rent?
10 days
Does the state give homeowners a homestead exemption?
Only where local governments choose
Is there a cap on how fast assessed home values can rise?
No cap in the Lincoln Institute table
Gun Safety (6)
Does the state have a red flag law?
No statewide red flag law
Can cities pass their own gun laws?
Broad state preemption
Can you openly carry a handgun in the state?
Yes, no permit needed
Do you need a permit to carry a concealed handgun?
Permit required
Does the state require background checks on private gun sales?
For handguns only
Is there a waiting period to buy a gun?
No waiting period
Governor Josh Shapiro filed 22 lawsuits against the Trump administration in his first year, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reported, and his office says they protected more than $2 billion in federal funds. He leads the legal fight himself because Republican Attorney General Dave Sunday declined to sue.
Democrats hold the state House 103 to 100. Republicans control the Senate 27 to 23. The school funding system was ruled unconstitutional in 2023 and still has a $6.2 billion gap.
Federal Lawsuits
Shapiro filed 22 lawsuits against the Trump administration in his first year. The governor’s office says the suits have protected over $2 billion in federal funding for healthcare, education, and public services.
In most states, the attorney general leads lawsuits against the federal government. In Pennsylvania, AG Dave Sunday declined to challenge the Trump administration, so Shapiro took the cases himself using the governor’s legal authority.
Voting Access
Pennsylvania’s Act 77 created no-excuse mail voting in 2019 with bipartisan support. Since then, the requirement that voters handwrite a date on the return envelope has generated at least nine court decisions.
820,803 mail ballot applications reported before the May 2026 primary
The Third Circuit ruled the date requirement unconstitutional in 2025, finding it violates the Civil Rights Act’s materiality provision. As of May 2026, the case was headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Election law attorney Adam Bonin told the Inquirer the litigation is “approaching the endgame.”
Public Schools
In February 2023, Commonwealth Court ruled Pennsylvania’s school funding system unconstitutionally inequitable. The gap between the highest and lowest funded districts is $4,800 per student.
$6.2 billion estimated school funding gap, per a 2024 estimate PennLive reported
In 2024, PennLive reported that the state’s funding gap was estimated at $6.2 billion. Shapiro’s budgets since have added new school funding toward closing it.
The 2026 budget proposal draws $4.6 billion from state savings and includes a $100 million federal response fund to offset federal cuts. As of May 2026, the Republican Senate had not agreed to either.
Court ruling February 2023, Commonwealth Court found funding system unconstitutional
Per-pupil gap $4,800 between richest and poorest districts
Estimated gap $6.2 billion, per a 2024 estimate PennLive reported
Healthcare and Benefits
The federal reconciliation bill signed July 4, 2025 cut $911 billion from Medicaid over the next decade.
Work requirements starting January 2027 will force enrollees to prove 80 hours per month of work, volunteering, or education. People who miss a reporting deadline lose coverage even if they qualify.
2026 Elections in Pennsylvania
The legislature decides whether school funding and voting rules change. If Democrats won the Senate while keeping the House and the governor’s office, Democrats would control the governor’s office and both chambers.
November 3, 2026 Governor, all 203 House seats, 25 Senate seats
Registration deadline October 19, 2026
Mail ballot application deadline October 27, 2026
What You Can Do in Pennsylvania
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Check your registration and party status. Pennsylvania primaries are closed. Confirm at vote.pa.gov.
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Track your mail ballot. Use the state ballot tracker and contact your county election office immediately if something looks wrong.
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Call your state senator about school funding. Ask whether they support closing the school funding gap the court ruled unconstitutional. Find your senator at pasen.gov.
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Verify your Medicaid and SNAP status. If you receive benefits, keep your contact information current with the Department of Human Services at 1-866-550-4355.
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Ask every candidate about mail ballots. Do they support the date requirement? Do they support Act 77? Get a straight answer before November.
Contact Your Officials
Call your two U.S. senators, the governor's office, or look up your own state legislators.
Governor Josh Shapiro (D) 717-787-2500
Your State Legislators
Every address in Pennsylvania sits in one district for each chamber of the Legislature, and each district elects its own member. Enter your address in the Legislature's own lookup to see who represents you.
Find your Pennsylvania legislators
Chamber leaders
- Kim Ward, President Pro Tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate
- Joanna McClinton, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House
Events
Show Up Locally
Shady and 5th Outrage Hour
Visibility Event · Indivisible
Shady Avenue & Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232
We meet every day from 5pm to 6pm on the corner of Shady Ave and 5th Ave in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh. It is difficult to change the minds of those who disagree with us but our goal is.
Celebrating Democracy & Community! Hugh Darlington for PA 98
Community Event · Lancaster County Dems
93 E Main St, Mount Joy, PA, 17552
Celebrating Democracy & Community! Hugh Darlington for PA 98 The election may be over, but our commitment to the community continues! We've knocked on doors, made calls, shared ideas, built.
Pick a corner! Pick a day! Stand up to tyranny
Visibility Event · Indivisible
Murray Avenue & Beacon Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15217
Every Monday at 4:30PM we stand up to tyranny at the corner of Murray and Beacon. Bring a sign, bring your shouting with joy voice and join us for an hour as we let passer by's know we are not.
Democracy Mondays
Visibility Event · Indivisible
Forbes Avenue & South Braddock Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15221
Indivisible Regent Square is a local chapter of Indivisible, a nationwide movement of millions of people working to stop the rise of authoritarianism in the United States and to demand a real.
CCDC Election Celebration
Community Event · Cumberland County Democratic Committee
1201 Carlisle Springs Rd, Carlisle, PA, 17013
Join Cumberland County Democratic Committee to celebrate the 2026 election results! Please consider a donation to help cover our costs and get ready for the municipal elections in 2027:
NO Kings Vigil
Visibility Event · Indivisible
Pennsylvania Avenue & Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19130
Join us with our weekly NO KINGS VIGIL every Thursday from 8am--9am at the intersection od Pennsylvania Ave and Spring Garden St. We are a non-violent, peaceful, fun-loving gathering who defend our.
Beaver County Friday Rush Hour Protests
Community Event · Beaver County Democratic Committee
This event’s address is private. Sign up for more details, New Brighton, PA, 15066
Join our Democracy Warriors for a rush-hour protest every Friday. Bring a sign. Sign up to receive the location in your confirmation email. We will send updates via Mobilize about any future schedule.
Tesla Takedown West Chester: People Over Billionaires
Visibility Event · Indivisible
1568 West Chester Pike, West Chester, PA, 19382
Fight the billionaire takeover of America! Don’t allow DOGE to usurp our rights by stealing our personal data; no robbing Medicare and Social Security! It’s all an act of massive thievery to weaken.
Voter Tools
Voter Registration and Resources
Find Federal Representatives Use Congress.gov to confirm your House member and senators. Check Voting Rules Verify state registration rules and deadlines before the next election.
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