Secretary of State Pedro Cortés reminds Pennsylvanians to Visit votesPA.com for Important Voting Information

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of State Pedro A. Cortés today reminded Pennsylvanians they can find comprehensive voting information at the Department of State's website, votesPA.com.

"The goal of votesPA is to provide valuable information voters will need when they go to the polls on April 26," Cortés said. "We encourage all eligible voters to be fully informed about their rights and what they can expect at the polling place."

At votesPA.com, citizens can:

• Confirm their voter registration status;
• Locate their polling place and get directions;
• Find contact information for each county election office;
• View a demonstration video of the voting system used in each county;
• File a complaint if they encounter any difficulty or questionable situation at the polling place.

Additionally, votesPA.com includes a direct link to the Department's new voter education toolkit Everyone.votesPA.com. Visitors to the site will find a 2016 Voter Guide and "The Top 5 Things Every Pennsylvanian Should Know About 2016 Elections." Both publications are available to download and print.

On April 26, the polls will be open from 7 AM to 8 PM as registered Democratic and Republican voters elect their parties' nominees for:

• President of the United States
• One of Pennsylvania's two U.S. Senators
• All of the state's 18 members in the U.S. House of Representatives
• PA Attorney General
• PA Auditor General
• PA Treasurer
• Half of Pennsylvania's state senators
• All of the state house representatives
• Delegates and alternate delegates to each party's convention

Because Pennsylvania has a closed primary, only voters registered as Democrats or Republicans can vote for the party nominees. However, every registered voter may vote on any referendum or question on the ballot. The primary election ballot this year will include at least one question involving a proposed amendment to the state Constitution.

In addition, Secretary Cortés reminded registered voters that they have the right to cast a provisional ballot at the polling place if they believe they are registered at the precinct but are not listed in the pollbook. Provisional ballots will be reviewed by county officials within seven days after the election to determine whether the voter was eligible. 

Voters appearing at a polling place for the first time will need to show proper identification, which may be either photo or non-photo ID. There is no identification requirement for voters returning to vote at a polling place the second or subsequent election.

A voter is also entitled to have assistance at the voting booth if he or she is unable to enter the booth or use the balloting system. The voter can choose who will provide the assistance, except for the voter's employer, an agent of the employer, an officer or agent of the voter's union or the Judge of Elections.

For complete information about voting in Pennsylvania, visit votesPA.com or call 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772).

MEDIA CONTACT:  Wanda Murren, (717) 783-1621

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of State

Related Links

http://www.state.pa.us