Drifton, Pennsylvania Public Records

Residents can register to vote online through Pennsylvania's official portal at www.pavoterservices.pa.gov, operated by the Pennsylvania Department of State. The state requires voters to register at least 15 days before an election. Online registration requires a valid Pennsylvania driver's license or PennDOT identification card. Paper registration forms are also available at the Bureau, public libraries, and state agencies. Pennsylvania law requires voters to provide identification when voting for the first time at a polling place, with acceptable forms including driver's licenses, government-issued ID, utility bills, bank statements, or government documents showing name and address. As an unincorporated community, Drifton does not hold separate municipal elections for mayor or city council. Instead, residents vote in Foster Township supervisor elections when those positions appear on the ballot, typically on municipal election years held in odd-numbered years. The next municipal election will be November 4, 2025, when local government positions including township supervisors, tax collectors, and school board members will be decided. Pennsylvania holds municipal elections in odd-numbered years and state/federal elections in even-numbered years. Residents can look up their assigned polling place using the Pennsylvania Department of State's polling place finder at www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/pages/pollingplaceinfo.aspx by entering their address. Foster Township typically operates polling locations at community buildings and fire halls. Election records in Pennsylvania are largely public under state law. Voter registration lists are available for purchase by campaigns and political organizations through the Luzerne County elections office, though individual voter records including party affiliation and voting history (not vote choices) are publicly accessible. Campaign finance reports for state and local candidates are filed with and searchable through the Pennsylvania Department of State's campaign finance system at www.campaignfinanceonline.pa.gov. Precinct-level election results are posted by the county Bureau following certification of each election. In the November 2024 presidential election, Luzerne County reported approximately 160,000 registered voters with turnout exceeding 110,000 ballots cast, representing roughly 68-70% turnout, consistent with Pennsylvania's participation in presidential elections. The county has been closely watched as a bellwether in Pennsylvania politics, having voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020 after supporting Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. On November 3, 2026, Drifton and Luzerne County voters will participate in the midterm general election deciding numerous key races. Pennsylvania will hold elections for Governor (Governor Josh Shapiro's term expires January 2027, making the 2026 gubernatorial race a major statewide contest), Lieutenant Governor, and all statewide row offices including Attorney General, Auditor General, and State Treasurer. Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate seat is not up for election in 2026 (the next Pennsylvania Senate race will be in 2028). All 203 seats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will be on the ballot, including the district representing this community (currently the 116th Legislative District), as will half of the Pennsylvania Senate seats (25 of 50), though the specific district depends on the redistricting cycle. At the Luzerne County level, Luzerne County may hold elections for County Council seats, Row Offices such as District Attorney, Controller, and potentially judicial positions including Court of Common Pleas judges and Magisterial District Judges depending on term expirations. Foster Township may also have supervisor positions on the ballot if terms expire in 2026, though township elections typically occur in odd-numbered years. Pennsylvania offers mail-in voting to all registered voters under Act 77 of 2019, with no excuse required. Residents can apply for a mail-in ballot online at www.pavoterservices.pa.gov, by mail, or in person at the Luzerne County Bureau of Elections. Applications must be received by 5:00 PM on the Tuesday before Election Day (7 days prior). Completed mail-in ballots must be received by the Luzerne County elections office by 8:00 PM on Election Day to be counted, postmarks are not sufficient. Voters can also apply for annual mail-in ballot status, automatically receiving applications for each election throughout the year. Military and overseas voters qualify for absentee ballots under federal UOCAVA provisions with extended deadlines.