Are you registered to vote? Everything you need to know about voter registration.
Every fourth Tuesday in September is National Voter Registration Day, a holiday created to encourage Americans to participate in our democracy. And since this year is a presidential election year, the stakes are even higher.
Registering to vote is a relatively simple process and it personally took me three minutes to do.
If you’re a Pennsylvania resident and over 18 who wants to register for the 2020 general election you can go to votespa.com, then click on “register to vote online.” From there it will ask you to put your address and driver’s license number or social security number.
Due to the safety concerns of COVID-19, Gov. Tom Wolf has allowed all Pennsylvania voters to vote by mail without giving a reason, unlike previous elections. At the bottom of the registration, it will ask if you want to receive a mail-in ballot. It will also ask if you will be absent from your municipality.
Mail-in and absentee ballot applications for the Nov. 3, 2020, general election must be received by your county election office by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020.
If you’re planning on voting by mail it’s important that you request your ballot as soon as possible to ensure that your ballot will be received on time.
If you registered to vote and plan to vote at the polls on election day, be sure to be at the polls on Nov. 3 between 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. where you registered.
Besides deciding if you’ll vote in the polls or by mail, it’s also important to consider that different candidates will be running in your home district compared to the one at college. Doing research on who’s running in each district will help you get the most out of your vote.
The last day to register to vote for the general election in Pennsylvania is Oct. 19.
