Pennsylvania Independents Barred from May Primary Election Due to Closed System

Residents of Pennsylvania registered as Independent or with minor political parties will be unable to cast ballots in the upcoming General Primary election on May 19, according to information from Franklin County. This restriction is due to Pennsylvania’s closed primary system, which permits only registered Democrats and Republicans to vote for their party’s candidates during the primary election. The primary ballot will feature races for governor, lieutenant governor, representatives in Congress and the General Assembly, as well as state and local party committee positions.

Individuals wishing to participate in the primary election must change their party affiliation to either the Democratic or Republican party. This change must be completed by May 4 to be eligible for the May 19 primary. Voters who need to update their name or address in addition to their party affiliation can do so on the same voter registration form by selecting the applicable boxes.

There are several convenient methods available for submitting changes to voter registration, including name, address, or party affiliation. These changes can be made online by visiting http://www.vote.pa.gov/register, with the website available in both English and Spanish. Alternatively, applications can be submitted in person at the Franklin County Voter Registration Office, located at 272 N. Second St. in Chambersburg, which is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For those who prefer to submit changes via mail, a state or federal voter registration mail application can be obtained from various sources. These include candidates, political parties, and other federal, state, or municipal offices. Applications can also be downloaded from the Department of State’s website at http://www.vote.pa.gov, or from the Franklin County website, http://www.franklincountypa.gov. Another option is to apply at a Department of Transportation photo license center when updating a driver’s license. Additionally, eligible individuals can register or update their information at various government agencies, including state offices providing public assistance and services to persons with disabilities, armed forces recruitment centers, county Clerk of Court offices, Area Agencies on Aging, county mental health/intellectual disabilities offices, and Centers for Independent Living.

The deadline to submit any new voter registration applications or to make changes to existing registrations for the General Primary is May 4. Any applications received or postmarked after this date will be processed for the November 2026 General Election. Upon successful processing of a voter application, a voter registration card will be mailed to the individual, indicating their designated polling place.

Voters with questions regarding how to update their registration information are encouraged to contact the Franklin County Voter Registration Office directly at 717-261-3886 or the Franklin County Election Board at 717-261-3812. Further election and voter registration details are accessible on the Franklin County website, http://www.franklincountypa.gov.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Franklin County

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