Elections & Voter Registration

Elections

County Commissioners serve as the County Board of Elections and perform all duties imposed upon them by the Pennsylvania Election Code. Commissioners conduct the County Board of Elections meetings and appoint a chief clerk and other county employees and assistants to administer election and voter registration. The County Board must certify election results and voter registration totals to the Department of State as required by law.

The Voter Director of Elections is responsible for all aspects of the elections including, but not limited to:

• Select and equip polling places
• Purchase and preserve voting booths (voting equipment) and supplies
• Appoint employees
• Issue watcher’s certificates
• Prepare and publish notices and advertisements
• Receive petitions and nomination papers
• Investigate allegations of vote fraud
• Announce election results,
• Issue certificate to successful candidates

Voter Registration

Voter Registrar

The Voter Registrar processes all applications and voter registration changes received through the US Mail, office applications, and reports generated from the Department of Transportation through the Department of State in batches delivered electronically via a Pennsylvania database called (SURE) Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors. The SURE system is assisted by (HAVA) Help America Vote Act adopted by Congress in 2002.

The Voter Registrar will approve or decline voter registration applications based on information generated by the applicant and HAVA.

Qualifications

To be a registered voter in Pennsylvania, the following qualifications are required:

• You must be at least 18 years of age
• You must be a citizen of the United States
• You must reside in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in your election district for at least 30 days prior to the next election