State Website Helps Voters with Election May 21

In preparation for Pennsylvania’s municipal primary election on May 21, Acting Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar has reminded Pennsylvanians that they can find comprehensive voting information at votesPA.com.

Secretary Boockvar said that the votesPA site is “a one-stop shop” for Pennsylvanians preparing to go to the polls on primary day.

Pa. residents can verify their registration, find out where to vote and watch a video of how to cast a ballot on their county’s voting system.

“We encourage all eligible voters to be fully informed about their rights and what they can expect at the polling place,” Boockvar said.

Using the website

At votesPA.com, Pennsylvania residents can:

• Confirm their voter registration status;

• Locate their polling place and get directions;

• Find contact information for each county election office;

• View a demonstration video of the voting system used in each county;

• File a complaint if they encounter any difficulty or questionable situation at the polling place.

• On May 21, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

On the ballot

Registered Democratic and Republican voters will elect their parties’ nominees for:

• Judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania (two open seats)

• Judge of the Court of Common Pleas

• Judge of the Municipal Court (Philadelphia)

• County, school board and local seats such as mayor, city or borough council member, township commissioner or supervisor, magisterial district judges and precinct election officials.

Because Pennsylvania has a closed primary, only voters registered as Democrats or Republicans can vote for the party nominees.

However, every registered voter may vote on any referendum or question on the ballot. This year’s primary election does not include any statewide referenda or questions. In Morrisons Cove, North Woodbury Township voters will be presented with a referendum about alcohol sales at the Altoona-Blair County Airport. (See Page B-3 for more information.)

Secretary Boockvar reminded registered voters that they have the right to cast a provisional ballot at the polling place if they believe they are registered at the precinct but are not listed in the poll book or supplemental poll book.

Provisional ballots will be reviewed by county officials within seven days after the election to determine whether the voter was eligible.

Voters appearing at a polling place for the first time will need to show proper identification, which may be either photo or non-photo ID.

There is no identification requirement for voters returning to vote at a polling place for the second or subsequent election.

A voter is also entitled to have assistance at the voting booth if he or she is unable to enter the booth or use the balloting system. The voter can choose who will provide the assistance, except for the voter’s employer, an agent of the employer, an officer or agent of the voter’s union or the precinct’s Judge of Elections.

For complete information about voting in Pennsylvania, visit votesPA.com or call 1-877-VOTESPA, which is 1-(877)-868-3772).

The Herald’s special Primary Election coverage begins on Page A-6, then continues on Pages B-3 through B-7.