In 2022 It’s Up to You VOTE!

Another voting cycle is upon us which means we are bombarded with messages and ads on social media, television and email from candidates hoping to earn our vote. As we approach Election Day on November 8, 2022, here’s a primer on how to register to vote, evaluate candidates and issues, and actually vote.

Registering to Vote

Before considering for whom to vote, it’s important that you are registered to vote. To be eligible to vote in Pennsylvania, you must be: • A citizen of the United States for at least one month before the next election. • A resident of Pennsylvania and your election district for at least 30 days before the next election. • At least 18 years of age on the day of the next election. October 24, 2022 is the last day to register to vote or update your voter registration before this November’s general election. There are several ways to register: 1. In person at the Berks County Elections Office located at Court and Reed Streets in Reading, Pennsylvania. 2. When applying for or renewing a Pennsylvania Driver’s License. 3. By mail using a form available at many municipal buildings, state liquor stores and some branches of the United States Postal Service. 4. At state government offices including but not limited to armed forces recruitment centers; area agencies on aging; and offices of special education. 5. Online by visiting www.vote.pa.gov/register. Evaluating the Candidates There are several online resources that provide information on the candidates, the issues and general information about the election process.

www.ProCon.org

ProCon.org’s mission is “To promote civility, critical thinking, education, and informed citizenship by presenting the pro and con arguments to debatable issues in a straightforward, nonpartisan, freely accessible way.” It serves as a non-biased information and presents sourced pros and cons of debatable issues, as well as a host of reference information relevant to those issues.

www.VOTE411.org

Launched by the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF), VOTE411.org provides nonpartisan information with both general and state-specific information. Unlike ProCon.org which highlights issues, VOTE411.org focuses on the registration process including absentee ballot information, election dates, polling place locations and registration deadlines. It also provides a user-friendly snapshot of the next scheduled election and key deadlines associated with it. Users can enter their home address and find the polling location closest to their residence.

www.VotesPa.com

Votes PA is an official Pennsylvania government website that provides information on registration status, upcoming elections and absentee ballots. It provides election return information at the federal, state and county level for the current year and prior years dating back to 2000. In a section titled Find Voter Registration Status users can enter their personal information and receive a snapshot of their voting status, party, United States Congressional District, State Senatorial District, State House Legislative District and closest polling location.

Voting Options

Voting at the Polls | www.vote.pa.gov/AtThePolls If you choose to vote in person, polls are open on Election Day from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. If you have voted at your polling location before, you do not need to bring identification with you. If you are voting at a polling location for the first time in your election district, you WILL need to bring one of these forms of identification: Driver’s license | U.S. passport | Military, student or employee ID Voter registration card | Firearm permit | Current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government check | Any ID issued by the commonwealth or federal government. Once at the polling location, poll workers will check you in and answer any questions you might have about the voting process.

Voting by Mail-in or Absentee Ballot

Registered voters can apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot online with a valid PA driver’s license or photo I.D. from the PA Department of Transportation (PennDOT) or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. • Mail-in ballot – Any qualified voter may apply for a mail-in ballot. You may simply request this ballot without a reason. You now have the option to request to be added to the annual mail-in ballot request list where you’ll receive an application to renew your mail-in ballot request each year. Once your request is approved, you will automatically receive ballots for the remainder of the year, and you do not need to submit an application for each election. • Absentee ballot – If you plan to be out of the municipality on Election Day or if you have a disability or illness that prevents you from going to your polling place on Election Day, you can request this ballot type, which still requires you to list a reason for your ballot. Request forms for mail-in or absentee ballots must be received by November 1, 2022. Your completed ballet must be received by 8:00 PM on Election Day. 2

By Karen Klein,Principal, Fulcrum Information Resources