Are you over 18 and a citizen of the United States? If so, then you are qualified to vote in any local, state, or federal election.
REGISTER TO VOTE
Registering to vote can be overwhelming. Follow our simple step-by-step guide to register painlessly.
1. Consider which state you want to vote in
2. Consider registering as a Democrat
3. Register online
Registering to vote can be overwhelming. Follow our simple step-by-step guide to register painlessly.
1. Consider which state you want to vote in
- If you live in a state other than Pennsylvania, you have an important choice to make. There are a number of variables you should take into account when deciding where to register:
- Where will my vote make the most difference?
- Pennsylvania is a battleground state, meaning that a vote here can have a larger impact on a general election than in a solid-Democratic state or a solid-Republican state. It can be helpful to check the results of the last election or two in your home state. If either party consistently wins in state and federal elections by more than 5-10% , then you can most likely assume your state will not be as competitive as Pennsylvania in the upcoming election.
- Not all races are state-wide. Races for the House of Representatives, as well as state congresses are conducted on the district level. It is important to consider not only whether your vote can make more of a difference in your home state or Pennsylvania, but also whether your vote can make more of a difference in your home district or in Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional district, which has been a relatively safe-Democratic district over the past two election cycles.
- There are also primary elections. If there is a primary candidate in either your home state or Pennsylvania that you support, it may be in your interest to register wherever that candidate is running.
- Do I want to vote in-person or absentee?
- If you are would prefer to vote in-person, you may consider registering in the state you will be living on Election Day. If you don’t mind submitting an absentee or mail-in ballot, this is not as major of a consideration. However, be prepared: Certain states have been making efforts to make absentee and mail-in voting more difficult. If you have reason to doubt that you will be able to vote absentee or mail-in, you may consider opting for in-person voting.
- Where will I be on Election Day?
- Depending on the election, and the state in which you are registered to vote, Election Day could be during the semester or a break. Be prepared to request an absentee ballot if you will not be able to travel to your polling place for Election Day.
- Where will my vote make the most difference?
2. Consider registering as a Democrat
- Many states, including Pennsylvania, have closed elections, meaning that only registered Democratic voters can participate in the Democratic primary. If this is the case in the state you choose to register in, consider registering as a Democrat, even if you identify as an independent. If you are registered in a state with an open primary, it is not as important that you register as a Democrat.
3. Register online
- If you have decided to register in Pennsylvania you can register online.
- You will need either a Pennsylvania driver’s license or your social security number
- You must not be a robot (they check)