Pennsylvania
"Virtue, Liberty, and Independence"
The Keystone State is the ultimate political battleground, where Philadelphia and Pittsburgh bookend a whole lot of rural America. With 17 House seats and perpetual swing state status, Pennsylvania gets more political attention than a Wawa parking lot on hoagie day.
Voting & Civic Participation
Voter turnout trends, registration information, and voting access features
Voter Turnout
+6.1% above national average
+3.0% above national average
Fair - Notable gap
Voting Access Features
- Early Voting
- Mail-in Voting
- Same-day Registration
- Automatic Registration
- Voter ID Required
- No ID at polls; first-time voters may need ID
Civics Education Requirements
State-mandated civics courses, testing requirements, and education standards
Civics Education Standards
Strength Score: 37.5/100
Category: Moderate (0.5-1.0)
Civics Test
Required for graduation
- Test Type
- Locally developed assessment of U.S. history, government, civics (Act 35 of 2018)
- Implemented
- 2020
Course Requirements
No standalone civics course requirement
- Credits Required
- N/A
- Duration
- 0.5 semesters
Sources
- →Pennsylvania Act 35 (2018)
Pennsylvania General Assembly • Accessed: 2025-01-19
- →Hoover Institution State Civics Requirements in 2024
Hoover Institution • Accessed: 2025-01-19
- →State of State Standards for Civics and U.S. History (2021)
Fordham Institute • Accessed: 2025-01-20
- →State Civics Requirements in 2024
Hoover Institution • Accessed: 2025-01-20