ALLENTOWN, Pa. — National Voter Registration Day is putting a spotlight on voter registration across the country as Americans prepare for the 2026 midterm elections.
In Pennsylvania, the deadline to register or update a voter registration for the Nov. 3 general election is Oct. 19. Pennsylvanians can register online, by mail and at a number of government agencies, including PennDOT driver’s license centers.
For Allentown School District civics teacher Shannon Salter, voting and civic participation are subjects that extend well beyond the classroom.
“When you’re a coffee addict, you express yourself through coffee mugs,” Salter said while showing off her collection, including one promoting voting.
Asked whether coffee tastes better in a “When We All Vote” mug, Salter laughed.
“Of course. Democracy makes everything taste better. Is that cheesy or what?”
For Salter, however, registering to vote represents something much more serious.
“It’s the key that unlocks the door to start engaging and participating,” Salter said. “Once you’ve gone through the process of filling that paperwork and getting your voter registration card, there’s tangible evidence that you’ve got skin in the game.”
Salter runs voter registration drives for students and sees National Voter Registration Day as an opportunity to make civic participation more visible.
“It’s a way to make visible just one of the many ways that we can participate in self-government,” she said.
Pennsylvania’s youngest voters
Research from The Civics Center estimates that about 22% of Pennsylvania’s 18-year-olds are registered to vote, compared with 82% of people 45 and older. Its latest data portal tracks 39 states and estimates that about 43% of 18-year-olds are registered across those states.
Twenty-one-year-old Kamryn Tokar was among those who registered as soon as she became eligible.
“When did you first register to vote?” 69 News Reporter Bo Koltnow asked.
“When I turned 18,” Tokar said.
“How come?” Bo asked.
“My grandmother,” Tokar replied.
Pennsylvania residents who will be 18 by the next election can register before their 18th birthday if they meet the state’s other eligibility requirements.
Salter believes getting young people involved early can help make participation something they continue into adulthood.
“I think as communities we could come together and think about how do we make it easier for young people to form that habit,” Salter said.
Pennsylvania voters can also use the state’s online system to check their registration or update information, including their name, address, or political party.