HARRISBURG – Secretary of State Pedro A. Cortés is joining fellow members of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) in reminding citizens that September 2016 is National Voter Registration Month.
Cortés is working with Pennsylvania’s federal, state and local leaders to make eligible citizens aware of registration deadlines and requirements for the Nov. 8 general election. Pennsylvanians 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 Nov. 8,” Cortés said.
“We encourage all eligible citizens to be fully informed about their rights and what they can expect at the polling place.”
Eligible citizens may apply for a new voter registration or make changes to their existing registration at register.votesPA.com.
Tuesday, Oct. 11, is the deadline to register for the Nov. 8 general election. Applications for new registration, change of address or change in party affiliation must be submitted online by midnight on that day. Traditional paper registration applications must be postmarked no later than Oct. 11.
The nation’s Secretaries of State established National Voter Registration Month as a non-partisan means of encouraging voter participation and increasing awareness of state requirements and deadlines for voting.
NASS also supports the independently organized National Voter Registration Day effort, which will be held on Sept. 27, 2016.
Individuals wishing to register to vote in Pennsylvania for the Nov. 8 election must be:
- A citizen of the United States for at least one month before the election.
- A resident of Pennsylvania and the election district in which the individual desires to register and vote for at least 30 days before the election.
- At least 18 years of age on or before the date of the election.
The Department of State’s Web site, votesPA.com, available in English or Spanish, offers a polling place locator, and county boards of elections contact information. It also includes tips for first-time voters and members of the military. Voters also can familiarize themselves with the voting system they will use in their home county on Election Day.
In addition, voters will find helpful information ateveryone.votesPA.com, our web-based voter education toolkit. The site offers a 2016 Voter Guide and the “Top 5 Things Every Pennsylvania Voter Should Know For The 2016 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 visitvotesPA.com.