Pa. will now let voters apply for absentee ballots online: Here's what you need to know

It will now be even easier for Pennsylvanians to cast their vote in the upcoming November election thanks to the beautiful tool that is the internet. 

The Wolf administration said Monday that absentee ballot applications will be available online for the first time starting next week in an attempt to make the process faster and more accessible to voters.

Pennsylvania will be the third to state to offer electronic absentee ballot applications. The other two states are Virginia and California, according to Vote.org. 

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The online option will offer an alternative to the current system, which requires applicants to fill out paper forms and deliver them by hand or mail to county election offices.

Voters will still need to mail or hand-deliver completed ballots by 5 p.m. on Nov. 1.

So here's a breakdown of what you need to know about the application process from qualifications to deadlines, even down to the nitty-gritty paperwork you'll need.

Who is eligible to apply for an absentee ballot?

You  can apply for an absentee ballot if you are an individual:

• with illnesses or disabilities 
• who will be away from your municipality on business on Election Day
• who is a Pennsylvania student attending out-of-state college or university.

When can I apply and where?

The mobile-friendly, online application site goes live on Sept. 16, the first day that registered voters may apply for absentee ballots for the November 5 election.

The PA Election Code allows registered voters to apply for an absentee ballot up until one week before an election, which is just three days before the deadline to submit a voted absentee ballot. This year, the deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Tuesday, October 29.

The online application can be accessed at: votesPA.com/ApplyAbsentee.

Once voters receive their paper ballots, they will need to mail or hand-deliver the completed forms by 5 p.m. on Nov. 1.

What do I need to apply?

Applicants will need a PennDOT driver license or ID number.

For more information on voting by absentee ballot, visit votespa.com.