Secretary of the Commonwealth Reminds Voters of Closed Primary and First-Time Voter Identification Requirements

Encourages Pennsylvanians to visit VotesPA.com to prepare for April 22 Primary

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro A. Cortes reminded first-time voters and voters who have changed address since their last election to bring a form of identification to the polls on Tuesday. He also added that Pennsylvania statute requires a closed primary, meaning only voters registered as Democrat or Republican will select their nominees for office.

Voters will be casting ballots in the primary election for president and 19 Congressional seats. Commonwealth races will include all 203 state House of Representative seats, 25 state Senate seats (odd-numbered districts), and the three statewide row offices of attorney general, auditor general and treasurer.

"Preparation is key when planning to vote," Cortes said. "With more than 218,923 new registrants since January and many more voters who have changed their addresses, it's important for Pennsylvanians who are voting for the first time in a precinct to bring approved identification."

Approved forms of photo identification include:

-- Pennsylvania driver's license or PennDOT ID card
-- ID issued by any Commonwealth agency
-- ID issued by the U.S. Government
-- U.S. passport
-- U.S. Armed Forces ID
-- Student ID
-- Employee ID

If a voter does not have photo identification, he or she can use a non- photo identification that includes a name and address. Approved forms of non- photo identification include:

-- Voter ID card issued by the voter registration commission
-- Non-photo ID issued by the Commonwealth
-- Non-photo ID issued by the U.S. Government
-- Firearm permit
-- Current utility bill
-- Current bank statement
-- Current paycheck
-- Government check

Cortes also reminded those voters who registered for the first time, changed address or changed party, that they should have received confirmation of registration. He suggested voters call their county voter registration office if they have not received such a confirmation or have other questions.

In addition, Cortes explained that individuals must be registered and enrolled in a major political party (in this year's election, Democrat or Republican) to vote in that party's primary.

Pennsylvania Election Code 25 P.S. =A7 2812 states: " ... no elector who is not registered and enrolled as a member of a political party, in accordance with the provisions of this act, shall be permitted to vote the ballot of such party or any party ballot at any primary."

Voters who need guidance finding their polling place or seeking other Election Day information may visit the Department's interactive Web site, VotesPA.com for answers to their election questions. The site includes tips for first-time voters and members of the armed services, a listing of approved forms of identification for first-time voters, county contact information, voting system demonstrations by county and a polling place locator with driving directions.

For more information on voting, call the Department of State's toll free hotline at 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772), or visit VotesPA.com.

CONTACT: Leslie Amoros
Rebecca Halton
(717) 783-1621

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Pennsylvania Department of State

CONTACT: Leslie Amoros or Rebecca Halton, both for PA Department of
State, +1-717-783-1621

Web site: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/
http://www.votespa.com/

2008-04-20 19:05:02 0340005 PRNEWSWIRE