Tag: voter registration

Voter Registration Deadlines Approaching

Elections matter. If you want to see change happen you must participate.

Below is a set of voter information links. If you live in New Jersey you can download a
voter registration application form to be then mailed to your County Commissioner of Registration or Superintendant of Elections.

You can also check an Am I Registered page to determine if you are already registered. You should perform a polling place search if a new voter or recently moved to a new voting area.

To register in New Jersey you must be:

  • A United States citizen
  • At least 17 years old and may vote when reaching the age of 18
  • A resident of the county for 30 days before the election
  • You are NOT currently serving a sentence, probation or parole because of a felony conviction

If you live in Pennsylvania you can complete an online voter registration application. You can also check your voter registration status or find your polling place.

To register to vote in Pennsylvania you must:

  • Be a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the election
  • Be a resident of Pennsylvania and the election district in which you want to register and vote for at least 30 days before the next election
  • Be at least 18 years of age on or before the day of the next election

Keep these deadlines in mind. New Jersey voters have until October 16 to register for the November election. The last day to apply for a civilian absentee ballot is October 30 and must be returned by November 5.

The last day to register for the General Election in Pennsylvania is October 9. The last day to apply for a mail-in ballot is October 30. They must be returned by November 2.

Be a voter.

Discontent and Primary Election

An interesting article appeared in yesterday’s Philadelphia Inquirer by Kevin Riordan their South Jersey columnist. The article is titled, “Discontent fuels progressive slate in Cherry Hill.” The introduction begins with the following: “This refreshing if not quite revolutionary political effort arises in part from concerns about the redevelopment of South Jersey’s signature suburb, but also is being propelled by worries about the direction of the Democratic Party and the nation itself.”

Kevin Riordan goes on to write, “The fact that the mainstream Cherry Hill Democrats have been supported for decades by a sophisticated, well-financed county party organization that cultivates generational loyalty has led, the progressives say, to a municipal government that is more insular and less transparent than it would like the public to believe.”

Many discontented citizens would probably agree with the above – irrespective of town or county you live in. Kevin Riordan said it in a polite manner. Others would be more plain by stating that major party county committees aka “political machines” are entrenched and always anxious to maintain their political power, absent any regard for the betterment or well-being of the people in the community. If you are angry with the current situation, then you should make sure you are registered to vote.

Tomorrow, May 16, is the last opportunity to register and vote in the June 6 Primary Election. You can obtain a Voter Registration Application which must be delivered or mailed/postmarked by tomorrow to your local county elections office.

Voter Registration Deadlines Approach For Presidential Primaries

The 2010 Supreme Court decision known as Citizens United changed the way election campaigns are conducted. Some even say it has severely damaged our Democracy. In 2014, 36 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in the United States, the lowest turnout since World War II. In New Jersey only 20.8 percent of registered voters went to the polls last November, a record low.

Voter registration deadlines are quickly approaching. Information is provided below on the election registration process in the tri-state area. The deadline to register in New Jersey is Tuesday, May 17 for the June 7 Primary Election. New York’s registration deadline is March 25; Pennsylvania’s is March 28. The Presidential Primary in New York will be April 19 and in Pennsylvania, April 26.

Each state has their own set of election laws, procedures and deadlines.

New Jersey voter registration is handled on the county level under the direction of the
New Jersey Division of Elections. To become a registered voter an application form must be complete and mailed or delivered to your county
Superintendent of Elections/Commissioner of Registration.
The voter registration application is available for downloading. To determine your registration status visit the NJ Voter Information Home Page. Applications are also available when visiting an office of the Motor Vehicle Commission or your County Welfare Agency.

New York residents can register with the New York State Board of Elections by visiting their Register to Vote webpage. To determine if you are registered visit their Voter Registration Search page.

Online voter registration has been available in the state of Pennsylvania since August, 2015 under the authority of the Pennsylvania Department of State’s votesPA webpage. A voter can check their status by either visiting their voter registration status page or by calling 877-VOTE-SPA (868-3772).

Remember to register to vote – soon.