Deadline Fast Approaching To Register To Vote

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – Franklin County residents are reminded that the deadline to register to vote or make changes to existing voter registration information ahead of Pennsylvania’s May 17 General Primary is quickly approaching. Below is key information to keep in mind.

How do I submit my initial voter registration application or change of name, address or party affiliation?

1. Submit your information online at register.votespa.com;

2. By mail one of two ways:

• Obtain a state of federal voter registration mail application from a candidate, political party or other federal, state or municipal office. You may also request an application from the Department of State’s website, www.vote.pa.gov.
• Download the voter registration application available from the Department of State’s website, www.vote.pa.gov, or from the Franklin County website, www.franklincountypa.gov.

IMPORTANT: If you are already registered and only need to update your information, you will need to check one of the boxes on the voter registration form to either Change Name, Change Address and/or Change Party.

3. Apply at a government agency. Clients of these government agencies may apply to register to vote or make changes to their registration at:

• State offices that provide assistance and services to persons with disabilities;
• Armed forces recruitment centers
• County Clerk of Courts offices
• Area Agencies on Aging and county mental health/intellectual disabilities offices
• Centers for independent living

What is the deadline to register to vote or change my name, address and/or party on my voter registration?

The deadline to apply for a Change of Name, Address and/or Party or to make a new registration for the upcoming General Primary Election is May 2. If your application is received or postmarked after that date, it will be processed for the 2022 General Election in November. Once the application is processed, each voter will receive a voter registration card in the mail which will notate the location of their polling place.

If you are currently registered as an Independent or with any minor political party (i.e. Green, Libertarian, Constitutional, etc.), you will not be able to vote for any candidates at the upcoming General Primary. Pennsylvania has a closed primary system, which allows only registered Democrats and Republicans to be able to vote for their parties’ candidates in the primary. If you wish to vote for all of the candidate races, you will need to change your party affiliation to either Democrat or Republican prior to May 2.

Any questions concerning registering to vote or updating a voter’s registration information should be directed to the Franklin County Voter Registration Office at 717-261-3886 or the Franklin County Election Board at 717-261-3810. Additional election and voter registration information is available on the Franklin County website, www.franklincountypa.gov.

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