04/23/2024
Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt reported that today’s presidential primary election in Pennsylvania ran efficiently and successfully, noting minimal reports of routine issues from voters across Pennsylvania.
04/22/2024
Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt announced the newly redesigned election night returns (ENR) website will offer up-to-the-minute results from counties after the polls close on April 23. With the Department of State's revamped interface, voters will be able to navigate between the statewide results and county-level results in a more user-friendly and intuitive manner.
04/19/2024
Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt today encouraged registered Pennsylvania voters to educate themselves about their rights before they vote in person in the April 23 primary election. Ensuring that our elections are conducted freely and fairly, and that every eligible voter can make their voice heard, are top priorities of the Shapiro Administration.
04/15/2024
Less than a week after Governor Josh Shapiro signed Act 4 of 2024 into law, the Pennsylvania Department of State began accepting applications for qualified individuals to work as licensed associate marriage and family therapists (LAMFTs) and licensed associate professional counselors (LAPCs).
04/11/2024
The State Boards of Psychology and Osteopathic Medicine voted this week to adopt new Statement of Policies (SOP) that oppose the use of conversion therapy on minors in Pennsylvania. The new policies notify licensees that the Board considers the use of conversion therapy to be unprofessional, harmful conduct that may subject any licensee engaging in it to administrative discipline.
04/10/2024
The Shapiro Administration implemented a new program from the U.S. Department of Education that allows eligible college students in Pennsylvania and across the country to use Federal Work Study (FWS) funding to work in get-out-the-vote activities, election offices, polling places, and other nonpartisan civic engagement employment opportunities.
04/09/2024
Registered Pennsylvania voters planning to vote by mail ballot in the April 23 primary election have one week left to apply for their ballot online or in person, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said today.
03/26/2024
Today, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt reminded eligible Pennsylvanians that the April 8 deadline to register to vote in the April 23 primary is only two weeks away. Ensuring our elections are conducted freely and fairly - and that every eligible voter can make their voice heard - are top priorities of the Shapiro Administration.
03/20/2024
In keeping with Governor Shapiro’s commitment to ensure safe and secure elections in Pennsylvania, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt launched the Department of State’s new Election Directors Training Team, providing election administration education and support to Pennsylvania’s county election directors.
03/18/2024
With the primary election a little more than a month away, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt today reminded Pennsylvania voters that the deadline to apply for mail-in or absentee ballots for the primary election is 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 16.
03/11/2024
Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt reminded Pennsylvanians today that the deadline to register to vote in the April 23 primary is four weeks away. Ensuring that our elections are conducted freely and fairly, and that every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast their ballot, are top priorities of the Shapiro Administration.
03/08/2024
Last year, Governor Shapiro signed an executive order to improve licensing, permitting and certification processes in Pennsylvania by establishing standard response times and money-back guarantees for applicants.
02/23/2024
In keeping with Governor Shapiro’s commitment to enhance opportunities for small diverse businesses to compete for state contracts, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt announced today the Department of State is gathering voluntarily submitted information from small businesses and sending it to the Department of General Services (DGS).
02/01/2024
In preparation for the April 23 Primary Election, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt today launched the Shapiro Administration’s 2024 Primary Election voter education initiative.
01/30/2024
In honor of national Help America Vote Day, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt today encouraged eligible Pennsylvanians to sign up to serve as poll workers for the April 23 primary election and Nov. 5 general election.
12/21/2023
In keeping with Governor Shapiro’s commitment to secure and transparent elections, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt announced today that a statewide audit of the Nov. 7, 2023, Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge race confirmed that the reported outcome of the election was accurate.
12/13/2023
Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt certified the official results of the 2023 Municipal Election yesterday.
12/01/2023
Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, many companies in the United States will have to report information about their beneficial owners – the individuals who ultimately own or control the company – to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
11/30/2023
esterday, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt introduced redesigned mail ballot materials that will be rolled out in 2024, with the goal of decreasing voter confusion that can lead to completed ballots being rejected.
11/29/2023
In keeping with Governor Shapiro’s commitment to strengthening our democracy and keeping our elections safe and secure, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt announced redesigned mail ballot materials that will be rolled out in the 2024 primary election. The redesigned envelopes and instruction sheets have revised language to better inform voters how to properly fill out and return their mail-in ballots, with the goal of decreasing voter confusion that can lead to completed ballots being rejected and assisting county election workers in efficiently processing mail in ballots.
11/16/2023
To continue Governor Shapiro’s commitment to transparency about election administration in the Commonwealth, the Department of State today livestreamed the process to randomly select batches of ballots from the Nov. 7, 2023, municipal election that will be audited as part of Pennsylvania’s third statewide risk-limiting audit (RLA).
11/07/2023
Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said that today’s municipal election in Pennsylvania ran relatively smoothly, with county elections boards reporting a minimal number of isolated issues.
11/03/2023
Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt today encouraged Pennsylvania voters to educate themselves about their rights before they vote in person on Nov. 7. Ensuring that our elections are conducted freely, fairly, and securely – and that every eligible voter can make their voice heard – are top priorities of the Shapiro Administration.
11/01/2023
Secretary Schmidt reminds voters to hand deliver their mail ballots by 8 p.m. Election Day
10/31/2023
In preparation for the Nov. 7 Municipal Election, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt reminded Pennsylvania voters today that they can find comprehensive voting information at vote.pa.gov. Ensuring that our elections are conducted freely, fairly, and securely – and that every eligible voter can make their voice heard – are top priorities of the Shapiro Administration.
10/24/2023
Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt reminded Pennsylvanians today they can apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot for the upcoming Municipal Election until Tuesday, Oct. 31. Ensuring that our elections are conducted freely, fairly, and securely – and that every eligible voter can make their voice heard – are top priorities of the Shapiro Administration.
10/19/2023
Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt at a press conference Thursday discussed election preparations and deadlines for voters to keep in mind to cast their ballot in the Nov. 7 municipal election. Ensuring that our elections are conducted freely, fairly, and securely – and that every eligible voter can make their voice heard – are top priorities of the Shapiro Administration.
10/10/2023
Today, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt reminded eligible Pennsylvanians that the Oct. 23 deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 7 municipal election is only two weeks away. Ensuring that our elections are conducted freely, fairly, and securely – and that every eligible voter can make their voice heard – are top priorities of the Shapiro Administration.
10/03/2023
Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt today reminded registered Pennsylvania voters that they have until 5 p.m. Oct. 31 to apply for a mail ballot for the Nov. 7 municipal election. Ensuring that our elections are conducted securely, freely, and fairly – and that every eligible voter can make their voice heard – are top priorities of the Shapiro Administration.
09/28/2023
Greg Sirb, executive director of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission (SAC) and the longest-tenured director of any state athletic commission in the nation, will retire Friday, Sept. 29.