The deadline to register for Pennsylvania’s May 19 primary election is May 4, now two weeks away.
Registering to vote takes only a few minutes, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said, urging residents who are not yet registered to visit the state’s voter website to begin the process.
State officials encourage voters to use the Department of State’s online registration system, which also allows current voters to update their name, address or party affiliation.
Pennsylvania holds closed primary elections, meaning only registered Democrats and Republicans may vote for their party’s nominees. All voters, however, may participate in local ballot questions.
During the primary, eligible Democratic and Republican voters will choose nominees for offices including U.S. House, governor, lieutenant governor, even-numbered state Senate districts and all state House seats, as well as party committee positions. A full list of candidates can be found online.
To register for the May 19 primary, individuals must be U.S. citizens for at least one month before the election, residents of their election district for at least 30 days and at least 18 years old on or before Election Day.
In addition to online registration, applications are available at county voter registration offices, public assistance offices, Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program sites, Armed Forces recruitment centers and other government locations.
The state also offers automatic voter registration at Pennsylvania Department of Transportation driver and photo license centers, a program launched in 2023 under Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration.
Regardless of the method used, voter registration applications must be received by county election offices by the close of business on May 4.
Registered voters may request a mail ballot or vote in person on Election Day. Mail ballot applications must be received by county offices by 5 p.m. May 12. Completed mail ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on May 19 to be counted.
“Your vote is valuable, regardless of how you choose to cast it, and I encourage you to exercise your constitutional right by voting in this election,” Schmidt said. “Participate in our democracy and let your voice be heard.”
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, and voters in line by closing time will be allowed to vote.
More information, including polling place locations and voter resources, is available on the state’s election website, which is offered in multiple languages.
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