It’s time again to encourage everyone to make sure that they exercise their right to vote. The Primary Election in Pennsylvania is coming up on Tuesday, May 20.

“Local” is a good word to apply to the upcoming Primary Election. This is an off-year election, and there are dozens of positions on the ballot and a vast majority of them are local.

There are a variety of judicial positions on the ballot and several county row offices, including county controller, treasurer, and coroner. Voters will weigh in on school board races and mayoral contests. Seats on borough councils and township supervisor boards will also be decided.

In a Primary Election, Democrat voters and Republican voters select the candidates they want to represent the parties during the November general election. Pennsylvania has a closed primary system. This means that Republican voters can vote only for Republican candidates and Democratic voters can vote only for Democratic candidates. The candidates who receive the highest number of votes go on to run in the general election.

These local contests are important. These locally elected officials will make decisions that have a large impact on our day-to-day lives than the decisions that are made by elected officials in much higher positions.

Voting isn’t just a right, it’s a responsibility. And it’s a responsibility we should all take seriously. Free and fair elections are a cornerstone of our democracy, and we’d all be much better off if more of us participated in elections—and by doing so, held elected officials accountable for their job performance. So make sure that your voice is heard on Election Day.

The last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot for the Primary Election is May 13.

On May 20, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to  8 p.m.

For residents who aren’t yet registered to vote in Pennsylvania, the last day to register to vote in the Municipal Election is October 20. The last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot for the Municipal Election is October 28.

The Municipal Election will then take place on Tuesday, November 4.

For much more election information, including where you vote, the county’s Department of Voter Services has a page on the Chester County website at www.chesco.org.