Today is the last day to register to vote in the primary
As the deadline approaches for registering to vote for the spring primary, voter advocates are seeing a flurry of interest in how government works as well as how citizens can get involved.
Statewide, the last day to register to vote for the May 16 primary is today, April 17.
If you will be 18 years old by May 16 and reside in Delaware County, there are a few ways to register.
First, you can visit the Voter Registration Commission in the lobby of the Delaware County Government Center, adjacent to the courthouse, in Media. Its hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. this Monday.
Registration can also be completed online by visiting co.delaware.pa.us and clicking on the Voter Registration page.
Registration forms are also available at all municipal buildings, libraries and Pennsylvania Wine & Spirits stores.
Although presidential elections are the most popular, voting advocates stress the importance of casting a vote in spring elections as well.
Up for grabs in the Mary primary will be party slates for county council and row offices, as well as municipal and school board seats, along with several magisterial district judge seats.
“If you don’t vote in the primary, you’re not going to have as big a say,” said Joyce Ellis, membership chair for the League of Women Voters, Central Delaware County chapter. “This is where everybody gets their start.”
She continued, “So many people think that a primary isn’t necessary. (They think) you don’t have to vote in the primary. But, that’s where people get started. If you’re not careful, people can go a fairly long way before someone decides that they don’t belong there.”
Olivia Thorne, president of the League of Women Voters, Delaware County chapter, highlighted that some contests are determined based on primary results.
“School board races are often, often decided in the primary,” she said.
Ellis said there are choices.
“On our voting machines in Delaware County, there is a button that says, ‘None of the above,’” she said.
In addition, she said in races like school board where multiple candidates are up for election, voters can pick the couple that they like.
“You don’t have to vote for all five,” Ellis said. “If you vote for the two that you want, that increases their chance of winning.”
The League of Women Voters use vote411.org, which invites candidates to create profiles about themselves a couple of weeks before the election.
Even Gov. Tom Wolf encouraged those eligible to participate in the voting process by registering at register.votesPA.com.
“Voting is one of our most fundamental rights as citizens,” he said. “Our secure online voter registration, which has been used by more than 930,000 Pennsylvanians, assists in reducing barriers for participation in the electoral process while also reducing costs for county governments.”
Thorne and Ellis said they’ve noticed a general interest in how the election process and government works and so, the leagues have been presenting educational workshops geared towards civics.
“I was surprised at how many people were not aware of what the Electoral College is and how it impacts your vote,” Thorne said.
Since mid-summer, league officials have been offering workshops explaining what it is and how the process works, down to absentee and provisional ballots.
Thorne said last year’s election has spurred more interest in how government works as well as a desire to participate.
“There are more people aware that they need to do more, that they have to learn more, they have to get more involved,” she said. “Second part, they want to do something.”
A recently joined member, Thorne said, created a slogan, “Be resolved to become more involved.”
Thorne said low turnout such as 10 to 20 percent or lower in primary elections and non-presidential years isn’t an accurate reflection.
“That’s not enough to be representative of what the community’s thinking,” she said. “The low turnout bothers me as much as anybody else. (It means) you think somebody else knows better than you who should be your elected representative.” Ellis agreed. “We say if you don’t vote, you might as well give your vote to somebody you don’t want to get it,” she said. “If you don’t vote in the primary, you’re not going to have as big a say.”
A vote, they said, is a strong tool for citizens to use.
“You have more power than you realize,” Thorne said. “Voting this spring is important. You really need to do it twice a year.”