Am I eligible to vote in the primary?

[Lottery]

I am a 17 year old high school student, and I will be 18 in October - before the election.

A few months ago, I sent in my voter registration, and they sent it back approximately a month later. They had the field "Social security number" highlighted, and the letter told me I needed to report to the local voter services office within thirty days.

I went to the voter services office of my county, and the man told me that they only highlighted the social security number field so that I would show up to voter services, and they could tell me that I was not able to register before the primary. I said "I thought you only had to be 18 by the election to vote in the primary", but he proceeded to tell me that I wasn't even able to register until the primary was over with (April 22).

Yes, Pennsylvania requires you to register to the Republican party to be able to vote for a Republican candidate...

I would like to get this cleared up - If I will be 18 by the election, am I able to register and vote in the Pennsylvania primary? (Yes, I'll be voting for Ron Paul )

 

[roflwofl89]

I know this is probably not going to help you since I'm not 100% sure on this (more like 90%)...but I think you need to be 18 by the next election (April 22), not necessarily the next Presidential election, to register to vote if under 18 at that time.

I can't believe though they actually made you come in just to hear what could have been told to you in the very letter that asked you to come in...

After our Primary, I think you should be good to go as far as registering, at least so you can write-in RP if you want

 

[Chowdah]

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of State
Bureau of Commissions, Elections, & Legislation

Qualifications to Apply to Register to Vote <-click

At least 18 years of age on or before the day of the next primary, special, municipal, or general election.

 

[SimpleName]

Yup. I turned 18 in February (thank god), so I just had time to slip in there. I am just about 100% sure you need to be 18 by the time the next election of any sort occurs in PA. legally, you MUSt be 18 to vote, so if you are 17 voting in the primaries, that would technically be illegal. The fact that they made you go all the way to the county office to find this out is ridiculous though.