City reminds Philadelphia of March 24 voter-registration deadline

Want to cast a vote for Clinton, Obama - or even McCain - in the primary election?

Then make sure you're registered to vote by March 24, City Commissioner Chairwoman Marge Tartaglione said yesterday. And she stressed that you must be registered as a Democrat or a Republican to pull the lever for any of the presidential candidates.

New voter registrations have skyrocketed in recent weeks. Tim Dowling, an election and finance-document specialist in the commissioners' office, said they have received 5,600 applications within the past week.

But voting specialists said they were fed up with false applications gumming up the works during this busy time of year. They specifically accused the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, which holds voter-registration drives around the city, of turning in bad paperwork.

"There are always some that have discrepancies or missing data," said Dowling, who added that ACORN also re-registers people who are already signed up. He said people who think they might be registered should call the Voter Registration Office (215-686- 1500 or 215-686-1509) before filling out an application. Tartaglione said the commissioners are asking the District Attorney's Office to investigate ACORN's registration efforts. *