Election Series
Registering to vote

The Franklin County Election Board offers this as the fifth in a series on the April 22 Presidential Primary on a variety of subjects that will be educational to Pennsylvania voters. The board is anticipating a larger than normal turnout for this primary election and wishes to supply information to the voters to assist them in the voting process.

For additional election and voter registration information, visit the county's website at www.co.franklin.pa.us

Any questions concerning the upcoming election should be directed to the Voter Registration Office at 717-261-3886 or the Franklin County Election Board at 717-261-3810.

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What are the qualifications to vote?

You can apply to register to vote at the upcoming 2008 Presidential Primary Election if by April 22.

1 - You will have been a citizen of the United States for at least one month.

2 - You have been a resident of Pennsylvania and the election district in which you seek to register and vote for at least 30 days.

3 - You will be at least 18 years of age.

How do I register to vote?

1 - In person at the Franklin County Voter Registration Office which is located in the Old Courthouse, Memorial Square, Chambersburg from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

2 - By mail in one of three ways: Obtain a state or federal voter information mail application from a candidate political party and other Federal State and municipal offices You may also request one from the Department of State's website at www.votespa.com; Download the voter registration application available from the Department of State's website at www.votespa.com or from the county's website at www.co.franklin.pa.us; Complete the Online Pennsylvania Voter Registration Application form which can also be accessed through the Department of State website at www. votespa.com

3 - Apply at Department of Transportation photo license center when you obtain or update your driver's license

4 - Apply at a government agency. Clients of these government agencies may apply to register to vote at State offices that provide public assistance and services to persons with disabilities, Armed Forces Recruitment Centers, County Clerk of Courts Office, Area Agencies on Aging County Mental Health/Mental Retardation Offices, Centers for Independent Living.

What is the deadline to register to vote?

The deadline to apply to register to vote for the upcoming Presidential Primary Election on April 22 is Monday, March 24. This is also the deadline for a voter to change their name address and or party affiliation. If your application is received after that date it will be processed for the November Presidential Election. Important: To vote in primary elections a voter would need to be registered with either the Democrat or Republican Party. The only exception to this rule is if there would be a constitutional amendment or ballot question on the ballot which would be able to be voted on by all registered voters.

Once the registration application is processed each voter will receive a voter registration card in the mail which will notate the location of their polling place.

How do I check on my voter registration status?

Are you still registered to vote? Have you moved recently? Do you know where your polling place is located? If you have any of these questions concerning the status of your voter registration you can now check your voter information online through a new statewide initiative called a SURE Public Portal. Upon logging on to www.pavoterservices.state.pa.us, you can view your own voter information, which includes your name, address, date of birth, date of registration, status, political party and voter history.

Any questions concerning registering to vote should be directed to the Voter Registration Office at 717-261-3886 or the Franklin County Election Board at 717-261-3810. You can also find additional election information on the county's website at www.co.franklin.pa.us