Coatesville, Pennsylvania Public Records

Pennsylvania residents can register online through the Department of State at register.votespa.com, where they'll need their Pennsylvania driver's license or PennDOT ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. The registration deadline sits 15 days before any election. First-time voters who registered by mail must bring identification to the polls. As an incorporated city, Coatesville holds municipal elections for Mayor, City Council members, and other city offices during odd-numbered years. The municipal primary happens in May, with the general election following in November. The next mayoral race will take place in 2025. Seven council members serve staggered four-year terms. Candidate filings and local ballot questions go through the Chester County Election Office, with information published on the Chester County website. Residents can locate their assigned polling place at pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/PollingPlaceInfo.aspx by entering their address, or they can contact the Voter Services Office directly. Pennsylvania election records available to the public include voter registration lists, which can be purchased by qualified requesters under 25 P.S. § 2616. Campaign finance reports are filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State at dos.pa.gov/VotingElections/CandidatesCommittees/CampaignFinance. Candidate nomination petitions, filings, and precinct-level results are also public. The Chester County Board of Elections posts unofficial results on election night and certified totals after canvassing at chesco.org/1014/Election-Results. The November 2024 presidential election saw approximately 66% voter turnout in Chester County, with over 320,000 ballots cast from roughly 485,000 registered voters, reflecting strong civic engagement in this politically competitive area. Looking toward the November 3, 2026 general election, Coatesville and Chester County voters will face several significant races. Pennsylvania will hold a gubernatorial election that year, as Governor Josh Shapiro reaches the midpoint of his four-year term. All 203 Pennsylvania House of Representatives seats will appear on the ballot, including the district representing the city, currently the 156th Legislative District. Half of the 50 State Senate seats - those in even-numbered districts - will also be contested. County-level races will include Chester County Commissioner seats and row offices such as Sheriff, Clerk of Courts, Recorder of Deeds, and Register of Wills, along with possible judicial races depending on term expirations. Pennsylvania does not have a U.S. Senate race scheduled for 2026; the next one falls in 2028. Local residents may also encounter ballot questions on city charter amendments or tax matters. Pennsylvania offers no-excuse mail-in voting under Act 77. Any registered voter can request a mail-in or absentee ballot by completing an application available at votespa.com/mailinvoting or through the Chester County Voter Services Office. Applications must arrive by 5:00 PM the Tuesday before Election Day. Completed mail-in ballots must reach the Chester County election office by 8:00 PM on Election Day. Voters can apply for an annual mail-in ballot list to automatically receive applications for all elections in the calendar year. Military and overseas voters have additional options through the Federal Voting Assistance Program.