Frequently asked questions

Qualifications for Voter Registration
In order to be eligible to register to vote, you must:

• Be a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the next election.
• Be a resident of Pennsylvania and your election district for at least 30 days before the next election.
• Be at least 18 years of age on the day of the next election.

If you are currently registered to vote, you do not have to re-register unless you have moved, or wish to change your name or political party affiliation.

Qualifications for Voters at a Primary
The qualifications for a voter entitled to vote at a primary are the same as a voter entitled to vote at an election, except that he or she must be registered in a political party (Republican or Democrat) in order to take part in and vote in that party's primary. However, all registered voters are entitled to vote on questions placed on the ballot or at a special election held concurrently with a Primary.

Register to Vote in Person
You may register to vote at the Bradford County Elections/Voter Registration Office, Courthouse 301 Main Street, Towanda, PA 16901. Business Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Phone number (570) 265-1717 or 1-888-270-VOTE.

Register to Vote by Mail
You may register to vote by mail. Forms are available at the Bradford County Election Office, as well as State Senate & State House Representatives Offices. You may also call the Voter Registration Office for forms or may be downloaded from this website. These forms require a postage stamp for return delivery to the County Office.

Register to Vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles
An application for a driver's license or renewal can serve as an application for voter registration or an update to a previous voter registration. The Department of Transportation transmits the contents of the application electronically to the Department of State. The Department of State prints the application and forwards them to the appropriate voter registration commission.

Register to Vote at Various Government Agencies
Several government agencies offer voter registration applications. The Department of Public Welfare, Health, Labor and Industry, the County Clerk of Orphan's Court and all armed forces recruitment centers offer this service. All forms submitted at these agencies are forwarded to the proper county voter registration commission.

Voter Registration Deadlines
In accordance with the Pennsylvania Voter Registration Act, the deadline for voter registration is 30 days prior to each election, with the following exceptions:

• Mail applications postmarked no later than the deadline to register must be processed. If the postmark is illegible, applications must be processed when received no later than five days after the deadline.
• If the application is submitted from the Department of Transportation or agencies designated for registration before the deadline to register prior to the election, the proper voter registration commission must process the application. Voter registration reopens the day following any primary or election.

When Elections are Held

• 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
• The Primary Election 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 Election in each odd-numbered year is called the Municipal Primary and is held on the third Tuesday in May
• Justices of the Supreme Court, Judges of Superior and Commonwealth Courts, Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, Magisterial District Judge, constables and all county municipal, 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.

Absentee Voting
Any qualified registered elector who will be absent from their municipality or unable to vote due to an illness or physical disability is entitled to vote by absentee ballot. Applications may be obtained 50 days prior to any election, but not later than 7 days before the election from the Elections/Voter Registration office.

Absentee Ballot Applications are available at the Bradford County Elections office and can be downloaded form this website.

Provisional Ballots
At all elections an individual who claims to be properly registered and eligible to vote at the election district but whose name does not appear on the general register and whose registration cannot be determined by the inspectors of election or the county election board shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot. Individuals who are voting for the first time at the election district shall be required to produce identification and if unable to do so shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot. An individual presenting a judicial order to vote shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot.

Prior to voting the provisional ballot, the elector shall be required to sign an affidavit stating the following: I do solemnly swear or affirm that my name is ____________, that my date of birth is ___________, and at the time that I registered I resided at __________________________in the municipality of Pennsylvania and that this is the only ballot that I cast in this election. Signature of Voter/Elector, Current Address and Signed by the Judge of Elections and Minority Inspector of Elections.

Voted Provisional Ballots are NOT counted at the polling place. They remain sealed until opened by officials and staff the Bradford County Board of Elections, which will determine the validity of each Provisional Ballot.

Assistance in Voting
Section 904 of the PA Voter Registration Act provides that if an elector is unable to see or mark the ballot or operate the voting machine or to enter the voting compartment or booth without assistance, the elector may receive assistance if they complete a declaration at the polling place. Therefore, electors requiring assistance in the polling place are no longer required to have such fact recorded on their registration card in advance of the election.

Watchers
Each candidate at a primary or election may appoint two watchers for each election district where the candidate is on the ballot. Each political party and political body, which has nominated candidates, may appoint three watchers at any general, municipal or special election for each election district where a candidate of such party or body is on the ballot. Each watcher so appointed must be a qualified registered elector of the county in which the election district for which the watcher was appointed is located. Only one watcher for each candidate at primaries or for each party or political body at general, municipal or special elections shall be present in the polling place at any one time. Watchers have the right to be present in the polling place from the time that the election officers meet before the opening of the polls, until the counting of the votes is completed and the district register and voting checklist have been locked and sealed. During those intervals when voters are NOT present in the polling place the Judge of Elections shall permit watchers, upon request, to inspect the voting check list or the two numbered list of voters. After the close of the polls and white the ballots are being counted or the voting machine canvassed, all the watchers shall be permitted to be in the polling place outside the enclosed space.