This year's presidential race is doing in Butler County what it is doing across the state. It is triggering a wave of party changing and causing some people who had not been registered to vote to "come around" to their right as American citizens.

And there still is plenty of time for new registrations or changing one's party affiliation. March 24 is the last day to change party enrollment or nonpartisan enrollment before the April 22 primaries.

But good advice for those not registered, or wanting to change their registrations, would be to visit the county voter registration office as soon as possible. That office has been a busy place in recent weeks and it probably will get busier.

Actually, a short or lengthy wait at the registration office would be worth the time expended. This is a historic election year — one that will be keenly remembered.

Last year it was anticipated that both major parties' presidential nominations would be decided by the time Keystone State voters cast their ballots in their respective party primaries. Instead, based on what has happened across the nation in Democratic Party balloting and caucuses, Pennsylvania now has a pivotal place in the process of deciding who will be the party's standard-bearer, Sen. Hillary Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama.

There no longer is a contest on the Republican side, with Sen. John McCain having wrapped up that nomination.

According to this county's voter registration office, between Jan. 1 and 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, 1,125 non-registered individuals had registered to vote. But probably the more significant statistic is that, since Jan. 1, 680 people have decided to change parties or become independents not tied to either of the two major parties. Of those party changes, 150 occurred between midday Thursday and 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Meanwhile, on the statewide front, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation reported receiving more than 26,000 party-change applications in February alone, a 250 percent increase over February 2007.

Because of Pennsylvania's closed primary, only voters who are registered either as a Democrat or Republican by the March 24 deadline can vote on April 22.

While there's new registration/registration change breathing room for now — including today, there still are nine days to do so — the old saying that "time flies" should not be ignored.

For many people, this could be the most exciting presidential election year of their lifetime. Their pledge should be not to miss out.

After March 24, no new registrations or changes will be allowed until April 23.