HARRISBURG – April 19 is the deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania’s primary election on May 18, Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro A. Cortés said today.
“The executive leaders and legislators Pennsylvanians elect to represent them will determine the course of our commonwealth,” Cortés said. “I encourage all residents to engage in the democratic process by exercising their fundamental right of citizenship — voting.”
On May 18, 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.
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.
Residents also may download a voter registration form from the Department of State at VotesPA.com. This site includes tips for first-time voters and members of the armed services, and instructions on how to cast a ballot. VotesPA.com allows voters to obtain directions to their polling place and to check their voter registration.
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.
