Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt today reminded Pennsylvanians that the deadline to register to vote in the May 19 primary is just one month away.
“It takes only a few minutes to register, and I urge every eligible Pennsylvanian who is not yet registered to vote to do so before the May 4 deadline,” Schmidt said. “Once you are registered, you can then exercise your fundamental right to vote and let your voice be heard in the upcoming primary election.”
Because Pennsylvania has a closed primary, only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote for their party’s nominees in the primary election. However, all voters can vote on local ballot questions, when applicable, as well as in any special elections that run simultaneously to the primary. For example, all voters in York County’s 196th House District can participate in the May 19 special election to fill the vacant seat for their state representative.
Eligible Democratic and Republican voters will have the opportunity to cast a ballot for their parties’ nominees for U.S. House of Representatives, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, even-numbered state Senate districts, and all state House districts, as well as Democratic and Republican State Committee. The Department’s candidate database lists candidates who are running for office.
To be eligible to vote in the May 19 primary, a person must be:
· A U.S. citizen for at least one month before the primary,
· A resident of the election district in which the person plans to register for at least 30 days before the primary, and
· At least 18 years old on or before May 19.
Pennsylvanians who are already registered to vote can check their registration status online. They can also update their voter record with any name, address, or party affiliation changes.
Eligible Pennsylvanians can also get a voter registration application at the following locations:
· their county voter registration office,
· county assistance offices,
· Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program offices,
· Armed Forces recruitment centers,
· county clerk of orphans’ courts or marriage license offices,
· area agencies on aging,
· county mental health and intellectual disabilities offices,
· student disability services offices of the State System of Higher Education, and
· Americans with Disabilities Act-mandated complementary paratransit providers.
Registered voters can also request a mail ballot online. Mail ballot applications must be received by a voter’s county elections board by 5 p.m. May 12. Voted mail ballots must be received by county election offices by 8 p.m. May 19.
