Pa.: 100,000 voters register online

Pennsylvania election officials say nearly 100,000 residents have registered to vote through the state's new online registration system.

Since the state launched online registration last August, more than 97,800 people have opted to use the system over than the more traditional route of submitting a paper application, said Pedro Cortes, who heads up the Department of State which oversees elections.

About 60 percent were registering for the first time, and nearly two-thirds were voters under the age of 35, state officials said.

Given that it's a presidential election year, those numbers are only expected to increase, said Cortes. The deadline to register to vote for the April 26 primary is March 28.

The website, www.register.votesPA.com, directs voters to fill out a form that is then routed to the county in which they live and processed. First-time voters can use the website if they have a Department of Transportation-issued identification that has their signature. If not, they can fill out the form, print it, sign it, and mail it in.

The website also allows registered voters to update their information.

-Angela Couloumbis