Oct. 7 is Deadline to Register to Vote in Pennsylvania Municipal Election

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of the Commonwealth Carol Aichele today reminded Pennsylvanians that Monday, Oct. 7, is the last day to register to vote for the Municipal Election on Nov. 5. 

In the Municipal Election, voters will cast ballots on whether to retain two state Supreme Court Justices, as well as whether to retain a judge of the state Superior Court, a statewide appeals court, and will elect a new member of the state Superior Court. 

Voters will also choose judges of the Court of Common Pleas in counties across the state, along with filling important county and municipal offices, such as district attorney, coroner, mayor, city and borough council, township commissioner and supervisor, and school board members. 

"There are many resources available to help citizens register and vote in these important contests," Aichele said. "Voters can visit www.VotesPA.com to check their registration status, download a voter registration form and find information on their polling place."

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, Oct. 7.

"There are many important offices on the ballot this fall, and I encourage everyone legally entitled to vote to register and cast a ballot," Aichele said.

"People we elect this fall will preside over our local courts, prosecute those who commit crimes in our neighborhoods, decide the level of police and fire protection in those neighborhoods, play important roles in the education our children receive in our neighborhood schools, and set the municipal and school property tax rates we pay," Aichele said.

The requirement to produce photo ID at the polls is not in effect at this time. Voters in this fall's election will be asked to show photo identification, to comply with the state's new voter ID law, but a photo ID will not be required to vote. Voters who are voting for the first time in a polling place will be required to present a form of ID as required by the law as it existed before the Voter ID law.

Any voter who does not have a photo ID can get one free of charge at any PennDOT driver license center, even if he or she was unable to get one in the past. Free IDs include the Department of State Voter ID, which is available by simply providing a name, date of birth, address and Social Security number (if the registered voter has one).

Information on the voter ID law as well as acceptable ID for first-time voters at a polling place is available at www.VotesPA.com or by calling 1-877-VOTESPA.

Individuals applying to register to vote for the 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; and
• At least 18 years of age on or before the election.

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 intellectual disabilities 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 contact: Ron Ruman, 717-783-1621

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of State