Pennsylvania’s primary elections are just three weeks away, and there are important deadlines to know if you want to be able to vote on May 19.Both the Democratic and Republican parties will have their primary elections on that date, and only registered voters with those parties can participate in those contests. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, though voters have a number of ways to participate.The last day to register for the primary elections or update your registration is May 4. You can typically register at an election office, by mail, or online at vote.pa.gov.The last day to request a mail ballot is May 12, and in many cases, election officials say you should not mail back a mail ballot if you receive it that day or later because it may not arrive by the deadline of 8 p.m. on Election Day.Instead, many election officials say if you are concerned about a county board of elections not receiving your ballot on time, then you should bring it in person to a county board of elections office or use a drop box, if your county utilizes them.“If someone is worried that maybe they won’t be able to make it to the polling place, whether that’s work or a health issue or anything like that, that mail-in is an option for them. And that way they can do it on their own timetable, what works for them,” said Bethany Salzarulo, elections director for Cumberland County.Mail Ballot RequirementsVoters must utilize a privacy envelope in addition to signing and dating their outer mail ballot envelope before returning it to a county board of elections.The outer envelope contains fields for a date and signature. If not adequately filled out, it could potentially deny a vote held inside from being counted during the canvass process.Some counties allow voters to correct such defects, though you should check your county’s board of elections website for more information. Can independent or third-party voters participate?Pennsylvania has closed primaries, which means only voters registered with the Democratic and Republican parties can vote in their respective races.But people who are not registered with those parties can participate in those races if they change their registration to be a member of one of those parties by the end of May 4.The issue is currently being litigated in Commonwealth Court, but David Thornburgh, chair of Ballot Action PA, said a large number of Pennsylvanians aren’t able to participate in primary elections that, in many communities, often determine who will ultimately represent them in the legislature or state office.“It makes no sense, and it disenfranchises every primary season 1.4 million voters—the fastest growing segment of voters in the Commonwealth,” he said.
HARRISBURG, Pa. —
Pennsylvania’s primary elections are just three weeks away, and there are important deadlines to know if you want to be able to vote on May 19.
Both the Democratic and Republican parties will have their primary elections on that date, and only registered voters with those parties can participate in those contests. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, though voters have a number of ways to participate.
The last day to register for the primary elections or update your registration is May 4. You can typically register at an election office, by mail, or online at vote.pa.gov.
The last day to request a mail ballot is May 12, and in many cases, election officials say you should not mail back a mail ballot if you receive it that day or later because it may not arrive by the deadline of 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Instead, many election officials say if you are concerned about a county board of elections not receiving your ballot on time, then you should bring it in person to a county board of elections office or use a drop box, if your county utilizes them.
“If someone is worried that maybe they won’t be able to make it to the polling place, whether that’s work or a health issue or anything like that, that mail-in is an option for them. And that way they can do it on their own timetable, what works for them,” said Bethany Salzarulo, elections director for Cumberland County.
Mail Ballot Requirements
Voters must utilize a privacy envelope in addition to signing and dating their outer mail ballot envelope before returning it to a county board of elections.
The outer envelope contains fields for a date and signature. If not adequately filled out, it could potentially deny a vote held inside from being counted during the canvass process.
Some counties allow voters to correct such defects, though you should check your county’s board of elections website for more information.
Can independent or third-party voters participate?
Pennsylvania has closed primaries, which means only voters registered with the Democratic and Republican parties can vote in their respective races.
But people who are not registered with those parties can participate in those races if they change their registration to be a member of one of those parties by the end of May 4.
The issue is currently being litigated in Commonwealth Court, but David Thornburgh, chair of Ballot Action PA, said a large number of Pennsylvanians aren’t able to participate in primary elections that, in many communities, often determine who will ultimately represent them in the legislature or state office.
“It makes no sense, and it disenfranchises every primary season 1.4 million voters—the fastest growing segment of voters in the Commonwealth,” he said.