HARRISBURG, Pa., April 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Monday, April 18, is the last day to register to vote in Pennsylvania's May 17 primary election, acting Secretary of the Commonwealth Carol Aichele said today.

Primary voters will cast ballots for candidates for a variety of judicial and municipal offices, including judge of the Superior Court, judge of the Commonwealth Court and county Court of Common Pleas judges.

"There are many resources available to help citizens register and vote in these important judicial and local races," Aichele said. "Voters can visit our website to check their registration status, download a voter registration form and find information on their polling place."

More information and helpful resources are online at www.VotesPA.com.

Applications from Pennsylvanians registering for the first time, changing their address or changing their party affiliation must be postmarked or delivered to the applicant's county board of elections by the close of business on Monday, April 18.

Individuals must be registered in a major political party to vote in that party's primary. Electors wishing to vote who are not currently registered with one of the major parties must register by April 18 as either a Democrat or Republican in order to participate in the May 17 primary.

However, all registered electors are entitled to vote on ballot questions and in all special elections that might be held concurrently with a primary.

Individuals applying to register to vote for the May 17 primary must be:

• A citizen of the United States for at least one month before the primary;
• A resident of Pennsylvania and the election district in which the individual desires to register and vote for at least 30 days before the primary; and
• At least 18 years of age on or before the primary.

Residents may apply in person at a county voter registration office; the state departments of Public Welfare or Health; PennDOT photo and driver license centers; Armed Forces recruitment centers; county clerk of orphan's courts or marriage license centers; area agencies on aging; county mental health and mental retardation offices; student disability services offices of the State System of Higher Education; offices of special education in high schools; and Americans with Disabilities Act-mandated complimentary paratransit providers.

For more information on voter registration, call the Department of State's toll-free hotline at 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772) or visit www.VotesPA.com.

Media contacts: Kevin Murphy or Larissa Bedrick, 717-783-1621

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of State

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http://www.state.pa.us