Submitted photo Mifflin County Elections Director Paula Hoffman uses her signature to demonstrate the new electronic poll books.

LEWISTOWN — With the municipal election fast approaching, scheduled for Nov. 4, it is important for the community to be aware of specific dates and deadlines during this time.

According to Eva Weyrich, Juniata County voter registrar/election director, the government starts at the municipal level and works its way up to the president so every voice “should be heard from the municipal level up to the federal level.”

This voting season, Juniata County does “not have anything controversial” on the ballot and the Elections Office is currently preparing to begin mailing mail in and absentee ballots, after that, they will be preparing everything as they normally do to ensure a smooth election.

Weyrich reminds Juniata voters that all voted ballots must be returned to the voter registration office no later than 8 p.m. Nov. 4. She “encourage(s) all registered voters to exercise their right to vote on election day.”

Paula Hoffman, director of the Mifflin County elections office, adds that in addition to the ballot deadlines, Mifflin County residents should note that Oct. 13 will be an open house at the Mifflin County Courthouse Annex to view the new electronic poll books. The open house will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Hoffman said aside from the new poll books, there will be nothing different at this election and reminds Mifflin County residents to “vote both sides of the ballot.”

According to the Mifflin County elections office, the race for Mifflin County School Director is the most contested race.

Oct. 20 will be the first deadline of this election season as it is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. election. Oct. 28 will be the last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot.

“The races on the ballot in a municipal election may not receive the same attention as a presidential election, but they are important to the everyday lives of Pennsylvanians,” Al Schmidt, Secretary of the Commonwealth said. “It only takes a few minutes to register to vote. Once you are registered, you can then exercise your fundamental right to vote and let your voice be heard on Nov. 4.”

To be eligible to register to vote in the Nov. 4 municipal election, a person must be:

• A U.S. citizen for at least one month before the election,

• A resident of the election district in which the person plans to register for at least 30 days before the election, and

• At least 18 years old on or before

Nov. 4.

Pennsylvanians who are already registered to vote can check their registration status online or update their voter record with any name, address, or party affiliation changes online.

Eligible Pennsylvanians can also get a voter registration application at the following locations:

• their county voter registration office,

• county assistance offices,

• Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program offices,

• Armed Forces recruitment centers,

• county clerk of orphans’ courts or marriage license offices,

• area agencies on aging,

• county mental health and intellectual disabilities offices,

• student disability services offices of the State System of Higher Education,

• offices of special education in high schools, and

• Americans with Disabilities Act-mandated complementary paratransit providers.

Registered voters can also request a mail ballot online. Mail ballot applications must be received by a voter’s county elections board by 5 p.m. Oct. 28. Completed mail ballots must be received by county election offices by 8 p.m. Nov. 4.