Dallas, Pennsylvania Public Records

The office welcomes in-person visits Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM for voter registration, absentee ballot applications, and general election information. Pennsylvania residents can register to vote online through the Pennsylvania Department of State at www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx. The online system requires a valid Pennsylvania driver's license or PennDOT identification card. Applications must be received at least 15 days before an election. The state allows same-party voter registration changes up to 15 days before primary elections. Eligible voters must be U.S. Citizens, Pennsylvania residents for at least 30 days before the election, and at least 18 years old by election day. First-time voters who registered by mail and haven't previously voted in Pennsylvania may need to provide identification when voting for the first time. Municipal elections in the borough happen in odd-numbered years for borough council seats and the mayor's office. A seven-member council and an elected mayor govern the community, serving staggered four-year terms. The next municipal election is scheduled for November 2025, with council seats and potentially the mayor's position on the ballot. Candidates file for municipal offices in February and March of election years through the Luzerne County Bureau of Elections. Borough council meetings take place regularly at the Dallas Borough Building at 50 Cynthia Street. Residents can locate their assigned polling place using the Pennsylvania Department of State's polling place lookup tool at www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/PollingPlaceInfo.aspx, which requires entering name and date of birth or county and address. The county maintains multiple polling locations throughout the borough and surrounding townships, typically at schools, community centers, and municipal buildings. Polls are open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on election day. Under Pennsylvania law, voter registration lists are public records available for inspection and purchase for legitimate purposes. Campaign finance reports filed by candidates and political committees are public and accessible through the Pennsylvania Department of State website at www.campaignfinanceonline.pa.gov. Election results by precinct, including vote totals for each candidate and ballot question, are published by the bureau after certification. Candidate nominating petitions and financial disclosure statements filed with the county are also public records available for inspection. In the November 2024 presidential election, Luzerne County recorded approximately 168,000 total votes cast out of approximately 220,000 registered voters, representing roughly 76% turnout. The county has been a bellwether in recent presidential elections, narrowly favoring Republican candidates in 2016 and 2020 after decades of Democratic majorities, reflecting the region's shift from its labor union and coal mining heritage. The November 3, 2026 general election will be a crucial midterm for voters throughout the borough and county. Pennsylvania voters will elect a Governor and Lieutenant Governor for four-year terms, as there is no U.S. Senate seat from Pennsylvania up in 2026. Also on the ballot will be Pennsylvania State Senator for the 20th District, which includes Dallas, and Pennsylvania State Representative for the 117th District, covering the borough and Back Mountain area. Luzerne County Council members and county elected row offices potentially including Controller will be decided, along with various judicial positions including Court of Common Pleas judges. Local races may include Dallas Borough Council seats depending on expiration of terms. Pennsylvania offers mail-in voting to all registered voters without requiring an excuse under Act 77 of 2019. Residents can request a mail-in ballot online at www.pavoterservices.pa.gov, by submitting a paper application to the Luzerne County Bureau of Elections, or in person at the elections office. Applications must be received by 5:00 PM the Tuesday before election day. Completed mail-in ballots must be returned to the bureau by 8:00 PM on election day, either by mail, by delivery to the elections office, or by deposit in an official drop box. Pennsylvania does not allow ballot harvesting; voters must return their own ballots or designate someone to return the ballot on their behalf only if they have a disability.