HARRISBURG – Secretary of State Pedro A. Cortés has reminded Pennsylvanians there is one month until the voter registration deadline for the November election. He encouraged applicants to use the state’s online voter registration system.
Eligible citizens have until Tuesday, Oct. 11, to apply for a new voter registration or make changes to their existing registration.
“The deadline is approaching quickly,” Cortés said. “Registering is the first step in exercising our fundamental right to vote. The online system makes registration convenient, accessible and secure.”
The online registration site can be found at register.votesPA.com. Applications for a new registration, or a change of name, address or party affiliation must be submitted online by midnight on Oct. 11. Traditional paper registration applications must be postmarked no later than that date.
Eligible Pennsylvanians may also use 2Vote, a new voter registration text messaging service. They can simply text “PA” to “2Vote” (28683) on a smartphone.
The user will receive a link that provides direct access to the online voter registration application. Also included are links to check voter registration status, locate your polling place and find contact information for county offices and the Department of State.
Voters planning to vote by absentee ballot are advised to pay close attention to important deadlines. Although the deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, Nov. 1, the voted ballots must be received by the county election office no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4.
Due to the three-day time frame and cutbacks in service by the U.S. Postal Service, voters are strongly urged to mail their absentee ballot request no later than Oct. 21, two weeks before the voted ballot must be received by the county office.
Voters may deliver their voted absentee ballots in person to county election offices or mail them if there is adequate time for delivery. A postmark is not sufficient for the ballot to be counted.
Pennsylvania voters will be electing the U.S. President and Vice President, one U.S. Senator and 18 U.S. House members, as well as the statewide offices of attorney general, auditor general and treasurer. Odd-numbered state Senate districts and all state House seats will also be on the ballot.
Individuals wishing to register to vote in the Nov. 8 general 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 and Spanish, offers printable voter registration applications, a polling place locator and county boards of elections contact information. It also includes tips for first-time voters and members of the military.
In addition, voters can familiarize themselves with the voting system they will use in their home county on Election Day.
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.
