Monday is last day for Pa. voter registration

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The Pennsylvania primary is about four weeks away. But if you want to cast your vote on April 26th you need to register by today.

With the presidential primary elections being as contentious as they've been, and with so many delegates at play in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, the outcomes in the Delaware Valley might actually decide who wins their party's nomination.

The voter registration office in Philadelphia had a busy day on Monday. In fact, it has been hopping for the past few days.

Gregory Irving, the Administrator of Voter Registration in Philadelphia, explains, "Probably within the last week alone we received about 6,000 applications. And we're also constantly receiving them from the state through their new online voter registration application."

Irving says there are two reasons for the uptick. First of all, in case you haven't noticed, it is a presidential election year. And secondly, the deadline to register for the April 26th Pennsylvania primaries is March 28, 2016.

So, if you live in Philadelphia and you still haven't registered, the good news is there is still time.

Irving tells us, "We are open until 12 o'clock midnight. They can come in to our counter here, fill out a form. We will process that, and once we do we will mail them out a voter registration card, which tells them where they are registered and gives them their voting location."

Most other registration offices across the state will also remain open through tonight.

The news is even better for procrastinating voters in Delaware and New Jersey. The registration deadline in Delaware is not until this coming Saturday, April 2nd, while in the Garden State the cut off is May 17th.

We spoke with people getting registered Monday who say, for better or for worse, this presidential election season has certainly inspired them to vote.

Randy Wheeler of West Philadelphia says, "Definitely a lot on the line. And I feel every vote counts, so I have to do my part."

And Garrett Okenka of Port Richmond tells us, "There is a lot on the line, and it could either stay about the same or get worse, or start to get better. Hopefully it will get better."

Gregory Irving says you can still mail your Philadelphia voter registration form, but it has to be postmarked by Monday, otherwise you have to do it in person.