Butler County Election Bureau beginning ‘Voter 411’ voting education seminars
The county Election Bureau is planning a series of eight voter education seminars across the county in July and August.
Updating voter registration, voting on Election Day and options for casting ballots are among the topics that Chantell McCurdy, bureau director, will cover during the “Voter 411“ seminars.
“This is the first time it has been done in Butler County,” McCurdy said. “We get a lot of questions here at the office, and I know municipalities get a lot of questions.”
She said she will discuss different methods of voting, the times when polls are open on Election Day, the differences among primary, general and special elections and other basic election information.
“It’s like frequently asked questions, but in person,” McCurdy said.
She said she was working with Cranberry Township officials about holding a voter education seminar in the township when she decided that it would be beneficial to make it a countywide endeavor.
Voter registrations forms will be available at the seminars, she said.
People planning to attend do not have to be registered voters or live near any of the seminar locations.
“They are open countywide to all residents regardless of location. Nonvoters are welcome,” McCurdy said.
She said she hopes to receive feedback from those who attend and use that information in future seminars.
“The goal is to offer these once a year,” McCurdy said.
A seminar with information for college students is being planned for Slippery Rock University, too. Students who registered to vote in the last election using the dorm they lived in as their address, will have to update their registration information if they plan to live in a different dorm this year, she said.
The last day to register to vote in the Nov. 7 election is Oct. 23. People can register with the Pennsylvania Department of State to vote through a link on the bureau website.
Countywide voter seminar sessions
The seminars are scheduled for 6:30 p.m.:
July 25 at the Fairview Borough Building, 135 N. Washington St., Petrolia
July 26 at the Slippery Rock Township municipal building, 155 Branchton Road
July 31 at the South Butler Community Library, 240 W. Main St., Saxonburg
Aug. 1 at the Jackson Township municipal building, 140 Magill Road, Zelienople
Aug. 2 at the Butler Township municipal building, 290 S. Duffy Road
Aug. 3 at the Salvation Army, 313 W. Cunningham St., Butler
Aug. 7 at the Adams Township municipal building, 690 Valencia Road, Mars
Aug. 9 at the Cranberry Township municipal building, 2525 Rochester Road.