In preparation for the primary election April 23, Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt kicked off a voter education initiative to remind Pennsylvania voters about key dates and deadlines.

“Registered voters who want to make their voice heard deserve early, clear, nonpartisan information about how they can cast their ballot, and that is exactly what the Department of State is providing,” Schmidt said.

Among the key dates, Schmidt said, are the following:

• April 8: last day to register to vote in the primary

• April 16: last day to apply for a mail ballot

• April 23: primary Election Day. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• 8 p.m. April 23: deadline for your county elections office to receive your completed mail ballot

Schmidt highlighted the department’s voter education tool kit, which provides ready-made graphics with election facts in English, Spanish and Chinese for stakeholders and the public to share online to help promote public confidence in elections and further educate voters about the primary.

Schmidt also reminded voters about the redesigned mail ballot materials the department announced last fall. The changes institute more uniformity in mail ballot materials across the commonwealth’s 67 counties and reduce the chances of voter errors and confusion, Schmidt said.

Recently, the department participated in Help America Vote Day, which is a national day of action established by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to encourage people to help their neighbors vote by signing up to be a poll worker.

For more information on voting in Pennsylvania, including mail ballots, call the Department of State’s year-round voter hotline at 1-877-votespa, visit vote.pa.gov or follow #readytovotepa on social media.