HARRISBURG – Secretary of the Commonwealth Basil L. Merenda reminded all eligible Pennsylvanians that the deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 2 general election is Monday, Oct. 4.
“I encourage all eligible residents to register to vote and to participate in our great democracy,” Merenda said. “Please visit the Department of State’s voter education website, VotesPA.com, to find registration materials and to prepare for this important election. Voting is your right — and your responsibility.”
The general election will feature a variety of offices, including governor, lieutenant governor, state senator and representative, U.S. senator and U.S. representative.
To be eligible to register to vote in Pennsylvania, you must be:
• a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the next primary, special, municipal or general election;
• a resident of Pennsylvania and of the election district in which you want to register and vote for at least 30 days before the next primary, special, municipal or general election; and
• at least 18 years of age on or before the day of the next primary, special, municipal or general election.
Applications from eligible Pennsylvanians who need to register, change their address or change their party affiliation must be postmarked or personally delivered to the applicant’s county board of elections no later than Oct. 4. Applicants should contact their county board of elections if they do not receive confirmation within 14 days of sending the application.
Printable voter registration applications and county boards of elections contact information are just two of the many resources available through VotesPA.com. An online “Election Day Assistant” helps voters plan ahead by providing easy-to-use, concise information, including their polling place location and tips on what to bring and what not to bring to the polls. VotesPA.com also offers videos demonstrating the various voting systems now in use.
Residents may also apply to register to vote at offices of the state departments of Public Welfare and Health; the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s photo and driver license centers; Armed Forces recruitment centers; clerk of orphan’s courts or marriage license centers; area agencies on aging; 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.