How easy is it to register to vote in Pa.

If you are a Pennsylvania resident and have not checked recently, you might be surprised what is involved in registering to vote.

Do you have a Smart Phone — an iPhone or Android? Do you have an Internet connection? Can you go on line? If so, there are easier ways to register than the paper form, although the paper application is still good. Here is where my thoughts wander at this time of year and my prior background as a high school social studies teacher takes over.

For all matters regarding registration and voting, Pennsylvania has a handy site that can be accessed both by Smart Phone — the aforementioned iPhone or Android or any phone that can get on the Internet — and also by computer. Just go to www.votespa.com.

As the site indicates, VotesPa “can help you find your polling place, check your registration status, register online to vote, apply for an absentee ballot, and more,” according to the website.

Here are some things you need to know:

There is a deadline to register to vote

The last day to register to vote before the Nov. 6, 2018 election is Oct. 9, 2018, approximately three weeks from today’s date. If you are already registered, unless something has changed you are probably OK, but you can also go to www.votespa.com to check your registration status to make sure you are properly registered.

In order to register to vote in the Nov. 6, 2018 election, you must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of Pennsylvania at least 30 days before the election; and you must be at least 18 years old on election day.

The application will ask you why you are applying. You need to check one of the selections. The alternatives are: new registration, change of name, change of address (Note: If the change was a move from another state to Pennsylvania, in-

dicate new registration), change of party, and federal or state employee registering in last county of residence.

Have your Pennsylvania driver’s license or PennDOT ID with you when you are completing the information. If you do not have one, then you will be asked for the last four digits of your Social Security number.

There is a telephone number you can call if you have any questions. It is 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-8683772).

Absentee ballots have deadlines.

If you know you will be out of the area on election day, Nov. 6 and cannot vote at your polling place, or you are physically unable, you might qualify to vote with an absentee ballot. However, you must apply in advance for the ballot and you must be the one to return it to the County Voter Services department either in person or by mail.

The process for absentee ballots is:

• Complete the paper absentee ballot application and indicate the reason why you cannot get to the polling place on election day.

• Send the absentee ballot application to the County Election Office. Except for members of the military, the deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is one week before the election.

• If accepted, you will receive the absentee ballot. Once you receive the absentee ballot you need to mark the ballot following the instructions; sign and place the ballot in the secrecy envelope and then into the official envelope; return the ballot so it arrives at the County Election Office on time.

For the next election the last date to complete the request for the absentee ballot is Oct. 30. The last date when it must be received back at the County Election Office is Nov. 2.

As you can see, the absentee ballot process is time consuming and it is best to submit the necessary forms earlier rather than later. We are currently within the time frame to request an application for absentee ballot. There are special rules for military and overseas voters.

An additional handy tool can also be found on the www.votespa.com site to locate your polling place. Go to the polling place search tool and type the county of your residence, city, street name and house number and ZIP code. If you have any difficulty, contact your County Election Office or Voters’ Services.

Janet Colliton, Esq., is a Certified Elder Law Attorney and limits her practice to elder law, retirement and estate planning, Medicaid, Medicare, life care and special needs at 790 E. Market St., Suite 250, West Chester, Pa., 19382, 610-436-6674, colliton@ collitonlaw.com. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and, with Jeffrey Jones, CSA, cofounder of Life Transition Services LLC, a service for families with longterm care needs. Tune in on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. to radio WCHE 1520, “50+ Planning Ahead,” with Janet Colliton, Colliton Elder Law Associates, and Phil McFadden, Home Instead Senior Care.