(5/2025) Voter Registration Deadline May 5
Pennsylvanians who are not already registered to vote but wish to participate in the May 20 municipal primary election should be sure to register no later than Monday, May 5. To be eligible to vote in the primary, you must be a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the election; a resident of the election district in which you register to vote for at least 30 days before the primary; and at least 18 years of age on or before the date of the primary. Under state law, only voters registered as Republicans or Democrats may vote for candidates in the primary election. Citizens may register to vote online here or visit your county voter registration office. Not sure of your registration status? Check it here. Voters who prefer to vote by mail-in or absentee ballot have until May 13 to apply for the ballot and until 8 p.m. on May 20 to return it.
Get Ready for REAL ID
The deadline for enforcement of the federal REAL ID Act is less than a month away. Beginning May 7, federal law will require you to present a federally accepted form of identification to board a commercial domestic flight or visit a secure federal building that requires ID at the door. Federally accepted forms of identification include a Pennsylvania REAL ID driver’s license or ID card, a U.S. passport or passport card, or a military ID.
While all Pennsylvanians must comply with the new law, obtaining a state-issued REAL ID is not mandatory. PennDOT will continue to offer standard-issue driver’s licenses and photo IDs for those residents who do not want or need a REAL ID. If you’re not sure, PennDOT is offering the REAL ID online wizard to help you decide. To meet demand, PennDOT is hosting a series of dedicated REAL ID Days on Mondays at many driver license facilities. Check the schedule here. To learn more about REAL ID and how to obtain one, visit penndot.gov/REALID.
Help Limit Spread of Spotted Lanternfly
With the state’s spotted lanternfly quarantine now expanded to 56 counties, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is encouraging everyone to destroy lanternfly eggs in the coming weeks to help protect valuable food and ornamental crops. Adult insects die off over the winter after laying tiny rows of eggs, covering them with a putty-colored protective coating.
The egg masses, which can be on any outdoor surface, from trees and rocks to equipment and law furniture, each contain 30-50 eggs approximately the size of a pinhead and have survived winters in sub-zero temperatures. Scraping and smashing them is easy and requires no special tools.
To learn how to recognize and report spotted lanternflies, control them on your property and keep from taking them to new homes when you travel, visit www.agriculture.pa.gov/spottedlanternfly.
Checks are in the Mail for Money Match Program Recipients
The Pennsylvania Money Match initiative, which automatically returns certain unclaimed property being held by the state Treasury, is disbursing more than $1.7 million to its rightful owners this week. Pennsylvania Treasurer, Stacy Garrity, said 7,380 checks are being issued in this first round, and 40,000 more checks are expected to be issued in May to single owners of unclaimed property valued at up to $500. All disbursements follow a thorough identification and verification process.
The Money Match program was made possible with bipartisan support and signed into law as Act 81 of 2024. Pennsylvanians are encouraged to check the state’s unclaimed property database for any property valued at more than $500 that may be owed to them. A more formal claim process must be followed to have that property returned. For free assistance with your claim, please contact my district office by calling 717-334-3010 or stop by my district office at 30 W. Middle St., Gettysburg.
PBDA Accepting Applications for Program to Provide Laptops
The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) has announced the application period is open for the second round of its Digital Connectivity Technology Program. The program provides laptops for use by eligible public-facing institutions such as libraries, municipalities, workforce training organizations, not-for-profit organizations and other community anchor institutions that can offer internet access to individuals who otherwise lack the technology. More than 9,000 laptops were distributed in the first round of the program late last year. It is funded through the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Online applications can be made through the PBDA website.
