HARRISBURG – Today is the deadline to register to vote for the May 19 primary election. 

Individuals who need to register, change their address or change their party affiliation must postmark, or personally deliver, their application to their county board of elections by the close of business on April 20.

On May 19, voters will cast ballots in the municipal primary election for a variety of local and county races, including most local school boards, as well as for candidates seeking Supreme Court, Superior Court, Commonwealth Court, Court of Common Pleas and municipal court seats. Local ballot questions may also appear in each county.

Pennsylvania law requires a closed primary, meaning only voters registered to vote as Democrat or Republican may select their party’s nominees for office. However, all registered electors may vote on ballot questions and in all special elections that might be held concurrently with a primary.

Individuals registering to vote for the May 19 primary must be:

• A U.S. citizen 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.
• 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’s 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.

Printable voter registration applications are available through VotesPA.com.