The pivotal role Pennsylvania could play in this year's presidential election should encourage all Butler County residents of voting age to be registered so they can participate in the Nov. 2 balloting.

People still not registered should keep in mind that the registration deadline is Oct. 4. And, although that date might seem far away, it is important for people to keep in mind that procrastination could be a mistake if business, family or personal issues prevent them from registering during the final days or hours of the registration window.

Meanwhile, registered voters who have moved to this county should ensure that their registration has been transferred here. And, voters who will be unable to be in the county on Election Day should make arrangements to vote by absentee ballot.

It's encouraging that Butler County election officials have been processing between 80 and 100 applications - most for newly registered voters - each day.

"This is strictly about the presidential race," said Regis Young, director of the county's election bureau.

But hopefully the stepped-up registration interest also is rooted in Presidential Election 2004 being the first presidential balloting since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, which spawned a wave of patriotic fervor within Americans everywhere. Hopefully such patriotic spirit will spill over to presidential balloting beyond this year contest as well.

The attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center and damaged the Pentagon, coupled with the war in Iraq and important economic issues, have given Americans much to ponder as they weigh the candidacies of President George W. Bush and his Democratic challenger, Sen. John Kerry, in the weeks ahead. But for people to add their voice to deciding who will occupy the White House for the next four years, it is mandatory that those of legal voting age be properly registered.

In the past, residents of third-world countries, including some in Central America, have been willing to risk their lives for the opportunity to cast their ballots. In the United States, people don't have anything to fear on Election Day and, leading up to the voter-registration deadline, those who haven't yet registered don't have to navigate dangers in order to complete that simple process.

The registration process has been made even easier and more convenient than what it was decades ago by way of registration through the state Department of Transportation when applying for or renewing a driver's license. In addition, voter registration applications are available online at the Department of State's Web site: www.dos.state.pa.us.

Voter registration information was included with a story in Tuesday's Butler Eagle dealing with the progress of voter registration to date. That story reported that as of July 27, there were 105,913 registered voters in the county, up from 104,440 for the May primary. A total of 105,447 people were eligible to vote in the 2000 presidential contest.

At this stage, no one is predicting which candidate will capture Pennsylvania's 19 electoral votes. The Keystone State vote is regarded as being so close that the overall outcome of the election could be a product of how Pennsylvania votes.

That possibility of being such a big factor in the election should provide additional incentive to unregistered state residents to ensure they become eligible to vote.

An old observation remains applicable today - that if people don't vote, they have no grounds for complaining later if they don't agree with what is done. The registration pace currently being witnessed has the potential of producing a high, if not record, turnout.

The presidential candidates have been courting Pennsylvania, acknowledging its importance for victory. The closeness of the 2000 presidential election results in Florida showed how important each vote can be, and Pennsylvania election officials are working hard to ensure that the vote here doesn't turn into a fiasco like Florida's was four years ago .

People who have just registered to vote and those who will be doing so in coming weeks are acknowledging the impact that their one vote can have. They deserve praise for stepping forward to become part of this important matter of national business.

- J.R.K.