PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Monday, Oct. 21 is the deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania. Residents who want to cast a ballot for the upcoming general election on Nov. 5 have until 11:59 p.m. to register.
The quickest way to register is to do so online at pavoterservices.pa.gov. There, voters can check their registration status and request a mail-in or absentee ballot.
Residents can also register in person at a county voter services office. There are satellite locations throughout the region as well.
Philadelphia City Commissioner Omar Sabir said the satellite offices in the city were being underutilized.
“The beautiful thing/feature about the satellite locations is that you can walk in, you can get registered, and if you decide that you want to get your mail-in ballot printed right on the spot, you can do it right now and fulfill your civic obligation done before November the 5th,” Sabir said.
During an event aimed at reaching morning commuters at the 52nd Street El station on Monday, Sabir said he was concerned that turnout in the city, at least at the moment, is looking like it would be lighter than it was four years ago.
“I looked at the numbers last week. If we had an election today, there would be 100,000 less voters than there were in 2020, based on our predictions. So we’re trying to build some excitement, some enthusiasm,” he said.
A number of voters have already mailed in or dropped off their ballots — and thousands have already been marked as having issues that may prevent them from being counted. The Philadelphia City Commissioners released a list — that is currently 65 pages long — of voters who have at-risk ballots.
People on that list can request a replacement ballot at vote.phila.gov or at a satellite office.
Sabir reminded voters who have not yet submitted their mail-in ballot to follow all the instructions.
“Please sign and date the return envelope and then put the ballot in the yellow secrecy envelope. That’s what’s critical. That’s what we’re seeing,” he said.
The city is also in need of poll workers. They can make up to $295. Applications can be found at pollworker.philadelphiavotes.com.
The deadline to request a mail-in ballot in Pennsylvania is Oct. 29.