Election Logo

Elections and Voter Registration

2010 General Primary Election

General Information

  • Date of the 2010 General Primary Election
    • Tuesday, May 18, 2010
  • Hours of all Polling Places
    • 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • Election office contact information

Register to Vote

Registration forms are available at the Election Office, most banks, post offices, municipal offices and libraries. You may also download the form and print it out yourself:

Mail the completed registration form to:

Voter Registration and Elections
Willowbank Building
420 Holmes St.
Bellefonte, PA 16823-1488

You may also use the registration forms or onscreen application found at the Pennsylvania Department of State Website, VotesPA.

The last day before the Primary Election to change name/party/address or to register is April 19, 2010. A new ID card, listing your polling place, will be mailed to you. If you are unsure if you are still registered and/or unsure of where you vote, it is suggested that you contact the Election Office PRIOR TO APRIL 19, 2010.

Back to Top of Page

Absentee Ballots

  • IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM THE CENTRE COUNTY ELECTION OFFICE
    To be in compliance with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), a copy of a photo ID is REQUIRED for all absentee voters who are voting for the first time or did not vote in the November 2002 election. Following are the acceptable forms of photo ID:
    • PA license or ID card photo
    • Employee photo ID
    • US Passport
    • ID issued by US Government
    • US Military ID
    • Student ID
    If applicable, please include a copy of one of the acceptable forms of photo ID listed above with your absentee application to ensure that we are in compliance with HAVA requirements.
  • In order to receive an absentee ballot, you must complete a signed absentee ballot APPLICATION and return the APPLICATION to the election office by 5:00 p.m. on May 11, 2010.
  • An absentee APPLICATION for a registered voter in Centre County can be mailed to you upon request by calling the Election Office at 355-6703 or via e-mail to jemckinl@co.centre.pa.us. You can also download an Absentee Ballot Application [PDF] from VotesPA. Mail the completed application to:

    Voter Registration and Elections
    Willowbank Office Building
    420 Holmes St.
    Bellefonte, PA 16823-1488

    If you are registered in another county, you must request your application from that county.
  • An absentee BALLOT will then be mailed to you at the address designated on the application.
  • Last day that civilian absentee ballot APPLICATIONS can be accepted by the Election Office is 5:00 p.m. on May 11, 2010.
  • Last day that civilian BALLOTS can be accepted by the Election Office is 5:00 p.m. on May 14, 2010. No exceptions.

See also: Emergency Absentee Ballots

Back to Top of Page

Emergency Absentee Ballots

  • Obtaining an Emergency Absentee Ballot Application

    Emergency absentee ballot applications are available at the Elections Office.

    If you did not know or have a reason to apply for an absentee ballot by 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to Election Day, you may download and apply for an Emergency Absentee Ballot. This application must be notarized before it is submitted.

  • Requirements for Emergency Absentee Ballot Applications

    The county board of elections will process and approve only those emergency absentee ballot applications that have been completed and signed by the applicant elector before a notary public.

  • Emergency Absentee Ballot Application Deadline

    Emergency absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the county board of elections between 5:00 P.M. on the Tuesday before Election Day and 5:00 P.M. on the Friday before Election Day.

  • HOW TO OBTAIN AN EMERGENCY ABSENTEE BALLOT IF AN EMERGENCY OCCURS AFTER 5:00 P.M. ON THE FRIDAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY

    If you become physically disabled or ill between 5:00 P.M. on the Friday before Election Day and 8:00 P.M. on Election Day or if you find out after 5:00 P.M. on the Friday before Election Day that you will be absent from your municipality of residence on Election Day because of your business, duties or occupation, you can receive an emergency absentee ballot if you complete and file with the Centre County Court of Common Pleas an emergency application or a letter or other signed document, which includes the same information as that provided on the emergency application.

  • Obtaining an Emergency Absentee Ballot If You Are Not Able to Appear in Court

    If you are not able to appear in court to receive the ballot, you can designate, in writing, a representative to deliver the absentee ballot to you and return your completed absentee ballot to the county board of elections.

    If you are not able to appear in court or obtain assistance from an authorized representative, the judge will direct a deputy sheriff of the county to deliver the absentee ballot to you if you are at a physical location within the county.

  • Deadline to Apply for an Absentee Ballot When an Emergency Occurs After 5:00 P.M. on the Friday before Election Day

    Emergency absentee ballot applications from voters who experience an emergency after 5:00 P.M. on the Friday before Election Day must be submitted to the Court of Common Pleas no later than 8:00 P.M. on Election Day.

    IMPORTANT NOTICE: To designate an authorized representative to deliver your emergency absentee ballot, you must complete and sign the Authorized Representative Form and the authorized representative must complete and sign the Certification of Authorized Representative.

  • To Apply for an Emergency Absentee Ballot Between 5:00 p.m. on the Friday Before the Election and 8:30 a.m. on the Monday Before the Election

    To apply for an Emergency Absentee Ballot when the election office is closed between 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before the election and 8:30 a.m. on the Monday before the election, call:

    • Centre County Emergency Operations Center
      Telephone: 1-800-479-0050

    The Emergency Operations Center will contact an election official who will get in touch with you immediately.

  • MAKE SURE THAT YOUR VOTE COUNTS!

    IN COMPLETING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT AND RELATED ABSENTEE BALLOT MATERIAL AND RETURNING THE COMPLETED ABSENTEE BALLOT TO THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS, PLEASE BE SURE TO FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS RECEIVED FROM THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS. IMPROPER COMPLETION OF THE ABSENTEE BALLOT OR RELATED MATERIAL, OR IMPROPER DELIVERY OF THE ABSENTEE BALLOT TO THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS, CAN RESULT IN YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT BEING CHALLENGED AND SET ASIDE BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS OR A COURT OF LAW.

Back to Top of Page

First-Time Voters

If you are a first-time voter in Centre County or a first-time voter in your precinct due to an address change, you must present identification at the polls:

Approved forms of photo identification (ID must be valid):

  • PA driver's license or ID card issued by PennDOT
  • ID issued by any other Commonwealth agency
  • ID issued by the U.S. Government
  • U.S. Passport
  • U.S. Armed Forces ID
  • Student ID
  • Employee ID

Approved forms of non-photo identification (ID must include the name and address of the elector):

  • Voter's identification card issued by the voter registration commission
  • Non-photo ID issued by the Commonwealth
  • Non-photo ID issued by the U.S. Government
  • Firearm permit
  • Current utility bill
  • Current bank statement
  • Current paycheck
  • Government check

See also: What to Expect at the Polls

Back to Top of Page

When Elections are Held

  • The Primary in each even-numbered year is called the General Primary and is held on the third Tuesday in May, except in Presidential years when it is held on the fourth Tuesday in April.
  • The Primary in each odd-numbered year is called the Municipal Primary and is held on the third Tuesday in May.
  • A Primary narrows down the number of candidates for the Municipal or General Election, except in the case of Precinct Democratic Committeeman and Precinct Democratic Committeewoman, who are elected in the Primary Election.
  • General Elections are held in even-numbered years, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
  • Municipal Elections are held in odd-numbered years, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
  • Justices of the Supreme Court, Judges of Superior and Commonwealth Courts, Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, District Judges in Magisterial Districts, constables and all county municipal (borough and township offices), school district and election district officers are elected only at a Municipal Election.
  • Electors for President and Vice-President, United States Senators, Representatives in Congress, Governor and Lt. Governor, Auditor General, State Treasurer, Attorney General and Senators and Representatives in the General Assembly are elected only at a General Election.
  • The polls are open at all primaries and elections between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., prevailing time.
Back to Top of Page

What to Expect at the Polls

  • Please note that no campaigning is allowed within 10 feet of the entrance of the polling location.
  • Do not discuss any political subjects inside the polling place.
  • If you are unsure of the instructions, ask one of the Election Officials for clarification.
  • When entering the polls, the Election Officials at the table will ask your name, address, and possibly your birth date. In the Primaries you will also be asked your party affiliation.
  • After determining you are eligible to vote, you will be asked to sign your name in the poll book. When doing this, check your address listing. [If it is incorrect tell the Official, who will give you a Change of Address Form. Street address is required; a P.O. Box number can be used for mailing purposes ONLY.]
  • After signing your name, follow the instructions given to you by the poll worker.
  • When you have finished voting, a pollworker will give you a receipt for voting and an "I Voted" sticker.

See also: First Time Voters

Back to Top of Page

Campaign Expense Reporting

Campaign Finance Reports may be obtained from the Election Office or by going to the Department of State Website and printing a copy. Reports filed with the Election Office must be submitted on paper using the prescribed campaign finance report forms. Reports filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth (state offices, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas) may be filed on paper or electronically.

Forms Available Online:

If a candidate does NOT sign the Waiver of Expense Account Reporting on the back of the petition indicating that they do not plan to have receipts or expenditures in excess of $250.00, they are required to complete a Campaign Finance Report(s). To avoid penalties, Candidate and/or Committee reports are due in the Centre County Election Office by 5:00 p.m. according to the 2008 Campaign Finance Filing Dates Schedule [PDF]. If mailed, the postmark must be the day PRIOR to the deadline. NOTE: The Sixth Tuesday Pre-Primary and the Sixth Tuesday Pre-Election reports are required for state offices ONLY.

Back to Top of Page

Announcements

  • No current announcements are available.
Back to Top of Page

Legal Notices

Back to Top of Page

Board of Elections

  • Jon W. Eich, Chair
  • Rich Rogers
  • Steven G. Dershem
Back to Top of Page

Links