For all of the hubbub about photo identification, there is one requirement that hasn't changed for Pennsylvania voters: the need to be registered in advance.
Tuesday is the deadline for people to register to vote or to update their existing registration, such as with an address change, if they want to go to the polls on Nov. 6.
Applications must be postmarked or delivered to the board of elections of the county where one resides by the close of business Tuesday in order to be eligible to vote next month, Secretary of the Commonwealth Carol Aichele said in a news release.
Given the presidential race, as well as competitive races for U.S. Senate, state attorney general, auditor general and treasurer; U.S. House seats and some state representative seats in central Pennsylvania, it's expected a lot of people will want to vote.
The requirements for registering to vote are simple. One must be at least 18 years old on or before Election Day, a U.S. citizen for at least a month before the election and a resident of the state and the election district where the individual wants to vote at least 30 days prior to the election.
Registration forms are available from county boards of elections and various state and federal offices, including PennDOT photo and driver's license centers, and can be downloaded from votespa.com.
Our republic system of government depends on Americans using their right to vote to elect people whose goals and values reflect their own.
If you qualify to vote and haven't registered, do so immediately so you can have your say on Nov. 6.
