Montgomery County readies for 2026 primary election

Preparations for the 2026 election season continue in Montgomery County as officials get ready for area residents to vote in next month’s primary election.

A number of congressional, gubernatorial and state legislator races will be on the ballot for area residents to make their selections ahead of the general election in November.

“In Montgomery County, we’re taking every step to protect the right to vote, make our elections more accessible and ensure that every voter has the opportunity to have their voice heard,” Montgomery County Election Board Chairman Neil Makhija said in a statement.

Some 621,140 residents registered to vote in Montgomery County as of last week, per a Montgomery County spokesperson, with 69,437 mail-in ballots requested as of Wednesday.

Voters can cast their ballots in person, by mail or absentee. Voters have until Monday, May 4 to register for the upcoming primary election. Ballots in Horsham and Lower Salford townships will also feature ballot questions for voters to consider. Visit the Montgomery County Office of Voter Services’ website to learn more about sample ballots for voters.

Those interested in voting by mail need to request a mail-in ballot by Tuesday, May 12, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, and all ballots must be received by the time the polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19.

Montgomery County Office of Voter Services officials began sending out mail-in ballots Wednesday, per a Montogmery County spokesperson, who noted logic and accuracy testing also started Wednesday and “will continue for about two weeks.”

Montco’s satellite offices, drop boxes

The Montgomery County Office of Voter Services is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday on the sixth floor of One Montgomery Plaza, 425 Swede St. in Norristown. The agency will operate satellite offices from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on select days ahead of the election in Lansdale, Lower Merion Township, Norristown, Pottstown, and Willow Grove:

• Lansdale: Community Connections Lansdale Office, 421 W. Main St.

• Narberth: Lower Merion Magisterial District Courts, 925 Montgomery Ave.

• Norristown: One Montgomery Plaza, 425 Swede St., Suite 602

• Pottstown: Montgomery County Office of Public Health, 364 King St.

• Willow Grove: Willow Grove Annex, 102 N. York Road

According to the agency’s website, satellite offices in Norristown, Pottstown and Willow Grove will be open on Saturday, May 2. Satellite offices in Lansdale, Lower Merion Township and Norristown will be open on Sunday, May 3. Satellite offices in Lansdale, Lower Merion Township and Norristown will be open on Saturday, May 9. Satellite offices in Norristown, Pottstown and Willow Grove will be open on Sunday, May 10.

Additionally, Montgomery County’s Mobile Outreach Van will make select stops around the county to assist voters ahead of the election, according to a Montgomery County spokesperson.

For people casting their ballot by mail or absentee, voters can return their mail-in ballot to 1430 Dekalb St. Rear, Norristown, PA 19401.

Voters can also access more than a dozen secure drop boxes, which according to the department’s website, “are collected from the drop boxes daily by County Security and stored securely at the Voter Services office.” Officials stress voters should only return their own ballot.

A Montgomery County spokesperson noted in a statement issued Wednesday that a drop box situated inside One Montgomery Plaza, will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends and from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Other posted drop boxes are located at the following locations:

• Abington Township Municipal Building, 1176 Old York Road, in Abington

• Cheltenham Township Tax Office, 8230 Old York Road, in Elkins Park

• Gilbertsville Magisterial District Courts • 1050 E. Philadelphia Ave., Suite 20, in Gilbertsville

• Harleysville Magisterial District Court, 840 Harleysville Pike, Suite 2, in Harleysville

• Lansdale Magisterial District Court, 430 Pennbrook Parkway, in Lansdale

• Montgomery County Community Connections office, 421 W. Main St., Lansdale

• Ludington Library, 5 S. Bryn Mawr Ave., in Bryn Mawr

• Lower Merion Magisterial District Court, 925 Montgomery Ave., in Narberth

• Montgomery County Airy Street parking lot, located at the corner of Airy and DeKalb streets in Norristown

• Montgomery County Office of Public Health, 364 King St., in Pottstown

• Parking lot across from Victory Park, at the corner of Second and Arch streets, in Royersford

• Montgomery County 4H Center, 1015 Bridge Road, in Collegeville

• Upper Dublin Magisterial District Court, 1301 S. Bethlehem Pike, in Ambler

• Upper Dublin Library, 520 Virginia Drive, in Fort Washington

• Green Lane Park office, 2144 Snyder Road, in Green Lane

• Upper Merion Township Building, 175 W. Valley Forge Road, in King of Prussia

• Willow Grove Annex, 102 N. York Road, in Willow Grove

• Whitemarsh Magisterial District Court, 4002 Center Ave., in Lafayette Hill

‘I Voted!’ sticker contest

Montgomery County officials are also soliciting youth artists to submit designs to the premier “I Voted” sticker campaign. All Montgomery County residents are eligible to participate, including students in kindergarten through 12th grades from charter, homeschool, as well as public, private and parochial schools, according to a Montgomery County spokesperson.

Submissions will be accepted until April 30. Officials will choose up to 10 designs to distribute. Artists must follow several parameters, such as formatting a 2×2-inch rounded square using the words “I Voted!” in a pdf or jpg file, according to a Montgomery County spokesperson. Artwork with political affiliations will be disqualified from the contest, according to county officials.

Check out montgomerycountypa.gov/IVotedStickerContest to learn more about the contest. Visit the county’s voter services office or call 610-278-3280 for more information about the 2026 primary election.