Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania holds a closed primary, meaning only registered Democrats or Republicans can select nominees on April 23 for the Nov. 5 general election. Voters can vote for nominees in several races, including President of the United States, United States Senator, and others listed in the department’s candidate database.
Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt reminds eligible Pennsylvanians that the April 8 deadline to register to vote in the April 23 primary is only two weeks away.
“Voting is fundamental to our democracy,” Schmidt said. “But you must be registered to vote. I urge every eligible Pennsylvanian who isn’t registered yet to do so by April 8.”
Pennsylvanians are encouraged to use the fast and convenient online voter registration site. Current registered voters can also update their information if needed.
To be eligible to vote in the April 23 primary, individuals must be:
- A U.S. citizen for at least one month before the primary.
- A resident of the election district they plan to register in for at least 30 days before the primary.
- At least 18 years old on or before the primary date.
Once registered, voters can cast their ballot in person at their assigned polling place on Election Day or by requesting and returning a mail ballot.
“Whether you vote in person or by mail, I encourage all registered Pennsylvania voters to participate in this primary election,” Schmidt said, and added that ensuring free and fair elections and enabling every eligible voter to make their voice heard are top priorities of the Shapiro Administration.
Voters wishing to vote by mail must apply by 5 p.m. on April 16, and completed mail ballots must be received by county boards of elections by 8 p.m. on April 23. Those preferring to vote in person on primary day can find their polling place on vote.pa.gov.
Eligible Pennsylvanians can register in person at various locations, including county voter registration offices, Armed Forces recruitment centers, county assistance offices, and PennDOT centers.
In September, the Shapiro Administration introduced automatic voter registration at all PennDOT centers, streamlining the process for eligible citizens to register or update their information when obtaining or renewing their driver’s license or ID card.
On Tuesday, a federal court rejected conservative Pennsylvania legislators’ efforts to reverse the transition to automatic voter registration, along with their additional objections to measures aimed at enhancing voter registration.
Following this decisive setback, Governor Josh Shapiro issued the subsequent statement:
“In 2020 I defeated Donald Trump and his conspiracy theorist allies in court more than 40 times to defend Pennsylvanians’ votes and protect access to the ballot box. Today, we’ve done it again by getting their frivolous effort to stop automatic voter registration in our Commonwealth dismissed. Automatic voter registration is safe, secure, efficient, and entirely within my Administration’s authority. As Governor, I will always remain focused on protecting our democracy and ensuring our elections are free, fair, safe, and secure. Let today’s ruling be another reminder that taking legal advice from Donald Trump is never a winning strategy.”
For more voter education information, visit vote.pa.gov, available in English, Spanish, and Chinese.
