Take heed of primary election deadlines

Key deadlines are approaching for those wishing to have their say in the May 16 primary elections in Pennsylvania. We urge all citizens of voting age to take note.

Those who aren’t registered to vote or need to update their information (including change to party affiliation) have until May 1 to do so. It can be accomplished online or at your county election services office.

The last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot is May 9. Go to vote.pa.gov/ to find the form. Completed ballots must be in the hands of the county Board of Elections by 8 p.m. on the day of the election in order for them to count.

Once again, we urge people to pay attention to these races and take them seriously. We say this knowing that it is always an uphill climb to get people interested in so-called off-year elections, with no highly publicized races for offices such as president, governor or congressional seats.

Making matters worse is that there’s far more talk about the 2024 presidential race right now than any of the contests that are about to be decided. While it’s understandable that there’s such high interest in the race for the White House even at this early stage, keep in mind that presidential primaries are a year away, and at this point it’s not clear who all the candidates will be.

Voters should put 2024 talk aside for a little while and devote the next few weeks to making sure they are able to vote and that they have the information they need to make informed choices.

The elections being decided in May will help determine who represents us in municipal government, school boards and county offices. People in such roles make decisions that often have a far more significant impact on our day-to-day lives than anything that happens in Washington or Harrisburg.

Considering the heated atmosphere at many area school boards and municipal bodies these days, we’d like to think more people are paying attention. But history tells us participation will be far lower than it is in even-year elections. Each and every voter has the opportunity to reverse that trend and make sure they have a say in deciding how local institutions are run. Remember that the best way to make a difference is not to shout demands at elected officials but to play a role in determining who gets to make the decisions.

Keep in mind as well that primaries in off-year elections are of tremendous importance. Candidates for school board and county judge are allowed to cross-file, meaning they can run for both major party nominations. The result often is that voters in November are left with few or no choices on the ballot in these races. And in communities where one party or the other is dominant, the nominee of the leading party is all but assured victory in the fall. That means the people who vote in May are the ones who decide.

So if you aren’t sure whether or not you’re registered to vote, find out. A repeat registration could result in unnecessary hassles. And if you haven’t voted in a while, check to make sure you’re still registered and that your address is up to date. Voters can check their registration status by calling their county’s elections office. In Berks County, that number is 610-478-6490. Voters can also call the state at 877-868-3772 or check their status online at votesPA.com.

We urge registered voters to take time to learn about the candidates through local media, candidates’ websites and public forums. Seeing names on roadside signs isn’t nearly enough to make these important decisions.

And don’t forget to take note of the state judicial races on the ballot. What we just said about local races applies to Pennsylvania’s courts as well, including the fact that their decisions have been very much in the spotlight in recent times.

With so many important races to be decided, there’s no excuse for sitting this election out. Make sure you’re registered, and make your voice heard.