This article was written by Hey Philly editor Asha Prihar with local edits by Francesca Dabecco.
Even though there are already presumptive presidential nominees, Pennsylvania still has a primary on Tuesday, April 23 — and there are plenty of local and statewide candidates trying to win your vote.
Voters will choose each party’s respective nominees for offices like attorney general, state treasurer, auditor general, and state representative. The candidates who win this April will appear on the general election ballot in November.
Make sure you’re ready to vote with this checklist ⬇️
✅ Check To See If You’re Already Registered
Find out if your voter registration is up to date using this tool. You can also check your polling place and political party.
✅ If You’re Not Registered, Make Sure You’re Eligible
You’re allowed to vote if:
- You’ve been a U.S. citizen for at least one month before the election.
- You’ve been a resident of both Pennsylvania and your specific election district for at least 30 days before the election.
- You’ll be at least 18 years old on or before election day.
✅ Register or Make Changes by April 8!
Fill out your voter registration application online, by printing out and mailing this form, or in-person at the County Office Building at 542 Forbes Ave.
If you’re already registered but you moved, changed your name, or want to change your party affiliation, you can make changes to your registration before April 8.
❗ Important FYI: To Vote for Candidates, You Have To Register with a Party
Pennsylvania is one of 10 states that have “closed primaries,” which means you can only vote for your own party’s nominees. In other words, if you want to vote in the Democratic primary contests, you have to be registered as a Democrat, and if you want to vote in Republican races, you have to register as a Republican. If you’re currently an unaffiliated voter but you want to vote in partisan primary races, make sure you update your registration with your desired political party.
