Monday is Deadline to Register to Vote in Pennsylvania's May Primary
HARRISBURG, Pa., April 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro A. Cortes today reminded Pennsylvanians that Monday, April 19, is the deadline to register to vote in the May 18 primary election.
In the primary, voters will cast ballots for candidates for a variety of offices, including governor, lieutenant governor, state senator and representative, and U.S. senator and U.S. representative.
"I encourage everyone to register and then to vote in these important state and federal primary races," Cortes said. "I would like to remind everyone who has moved since they last voted to apply for registration using their new address."
Applications from eligible Pennsylvanians who need to register, change their address or change their party affiliation must be postmarked or delivered to the applicant's county board of elections by the close of business on Monday, April 19.
Cortes noted that the Department of State's voter education Web site, VotesPA.com, allows voters to check their voter registration status, download a voter registration form, and to obtain directions to their polling place.
Individuals must be registered and enrolled in a major political party to vote in that party's primary. Electors wishing to vote in a party's primary who are not currently registered with one of the major parties must register by April 19 as either a Democrat or Republican in order to participate in the May 18 primary. However, all registered electors are entitled to vote on ballot questions and in all special elections that might be held concurrently with a primary.
Individuals applying to register to vote for the May 18 primary must be:
- A citizen of the United States for at least one month before the primary;
- A resident of Pennsylvania and the election district in which the individual desires to register and vote for at least 30 days before the primary; and
- At least 18 years of age on or before the primary.
Residents may apply in person at a county voter registration office; the state departments of Public Welfare or Health; PennDOT photo and driver license centers; Armed Forces recruitment centers; county clerk of orphan's courts or marriage license centers; area agencies on aging; county mental health and mental retardation offices; student disability services offices of the State System of Higher Education; offices of special education in high schools; and Americans with Disabilities Act-mandated complimentary paratransit providers.
The VotesPA.com site includes tips for first-time voters and members of the armed services, and instructions on how to cast a ballot.
In addition, voters can view a demonstration of the type of voting system used at their polling places. Select "How to Vote" and choose your county of residence. Videos with step-by-step instructions on the various voting systems are available online, as well as links to each county board of elections.
For more information on voter registration, call the Department of State's toll-free hotline at 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772) or visit VotesPA.com.
Media contacts: Leslie Amoros or Charlie Young, 717-783-1621
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of State
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