In a move aimed at reducing the number of rejected provisional ballots in upcoming elections, Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt has announced a newly redesigned provisional ballot envelope.

The update comes as part of the Shapiro Administration’s ongoing efforts to increase voter participation and reduce ballot errors.

“Every registered voter in our Commonwealth should have the opportunity to cast their vote and make their voice heard in each election,” said Schmidt during a press conference in Philadelphia. “We believe these changes to the provisional ballot envelopes will have a positive impact, just as the changes we made to mail ballot materials two years ago did.”

The updated envelope features clearer instructions, highlighted signature fields, and improved formatting for both voters and poll workers.

The redesign was developed in collaboration with election officials from Philadelphia, Berks, Butler, Mercer, and Greene counties, who cited frequent issues with incomplete forms as a major cause of ballot rejections.

In the November 2024 general election, 29.12% of provisional ballots cast in Pennsylvania were rejected. The two most common reasons were unregistered voters and incomplete envelope information. A similar redesign to mail ballot materials in 2023 led to a 57% reduction in mail ballot rejections.

County officials are expected to begin using the redesigned envelopes during the 2025 general election. To support the rollout, the Department of State is offering grants to cover replacement costs.

“This is an important part of ensuring that every eligible vote gets counted,” said Philadelphia City Commissioner Omar Sabir. Commissioner Seth Bluestein added, “Improvements to envelope design such as these may appear small, but they can make a big difference.”

Provisional ballots are used when a voter’s eligibility is in question, such as not appearing on the voter rolls or lacking proper ID. Voters must complete and sign two sections of the envelope, seal their marked ballot, and return it to poll workers, who then review it post-election to determine validity.

For more information, call 1-877-VOTESPA or visit vote.pa.gov.