NORRISTOWN PA – If you hope to cast a ballot for any candidates in the May 19 Pennsylvania primary election, you must be registered to vote by no later than Monday afternoon (April 20, 2009), when the Montgomery County (PA) Board of Elections ends its workday.

If you aren't registered, you can't vote.

The unregistered can't vote.

The deadline also holds for individuals who need to change either their address or party affiliation, state Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro A. Cortes said Friday (April 17, 2009). Registrations or changes must be postmarked, or personally delivered, by April 20 to be considered valid, he noted.

To qualify for registration, an individual 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 vote for at least 30 days before the primary; and
  • At least age 18.

Voters next month will cast ballots in the municipal primary election for a variety of local and county races, as well as for candidates seeking Supreme Court, Superior Court, Commonwealth Court, Court of Common Pleas and municipal court seats.

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 voters may decide on ballot questions, as well as in all special elections that might be held concurrently with a primary.

Sign up to get The Sanatoga Post delivered free daily by e-mail.