Bill Text: PA HB1560 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Further providing for voting by absentee electors.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 18-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-05-29 - Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT [HB1560 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB1560-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 1935
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1560 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY GIBBONS, BELFANTI, BRENNAN, DePASQUALE, FABRIZIO, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GERGELY, JOSEPHS, KORTZ, KULA, MANDERINO, MUNDY, MUSTIO, PAYTON, SANTARSIERO, SANTONI, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH AND VULAKOVICH, MAY 29, 2009
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MAY 29, 2009
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled
"An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,
special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,
primary and election expenses and election contests; creating
and defining membership of county boards of elections;
imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;
imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,
revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to
elections," further providing for voting by absentee
electors.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1306(a) of the act of June 3, 1937
(P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code,
amended November 9, 2006 (P.L.1330, No.137), is amended to read:
Section 1306. Voting by Absentee Electors.--(a) Except as
provided in paragraphs (1), (2) and (3), at any time after
receiving an official absentee ballot, but on or before [five
o'clock P.M.] the close of business on the [Friday] Monday prior
to the primary or election, the elector shall, in secret,
proceed to mark the ballot only in black lead pencil, indelible
pencil or blue, black or blue-black ink, in fountain pen or ball
point pen, and then fold the ballot, enclose and securely seal
the same in the envelope on which is printed, stamped or
endorsed "Official Absentee [Ballot."] Ballot": Provided,
however, That any elector who submits an emergency application
and receives an absentee ballot in accordance with section
1302.1 shall mark the ballot on or before the close of business
on the day of the primary or election.
(1) Any elector who submits an Emergency Application and
receives an absentee ballot in accordance with section
1302.1(a.2) or (c) shall mark the ballot on or before eight
o'clock P.M. on the day of the primary or election. This
envelope shall then be placed in the second one, on which is
printed the form of declaration of the elector, and the address
of the elector's county board of election and the local election
district of the elector. The elector shall then fill out, date
and sign the declaration printed on such envelope. Such envelope
shall then be securely sealed and the elector shall send same by
mail, postage prepaid, except where franked, or deliver it in
person to said county board of election.
(2) Any elector, spouse of the elector or dependent of the
elector, qualified in accordance with the provisions of section
1301, subsections (e), (f), (g) and (h) to vote by absentee
ballot as herein provided, shall be required to include on the
form of declaration a supporting declaration in form prescribed
by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, to be signed by the head
of the department or chief of division or bureau in which the
elector is employed, setting forth the identity of the elector,
spouse of the elector or dependent of the elector.
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(3) Any elector who has filed his application in accordance
with section 1302 subsection (e)(2), and is unable to sign his
declaration because of illness or physical disability, shall be
excused from signing upon making a declaration which shall be
witnessed by one adult person in substantially the following
form: I hereby declare that I am unable to sign my declaration
for voting my absentee ballot without assistance because I am
unable to write by reason of my illness or physical disability.
I have made or received assistance in making my mark in lieu of
my signature.
.....................(Mark)
...................................
(Date)
...............................
(Signature of Witness)
...................................
(Complete Address of Witness)
* * *
Section 2. This act shall apply to all elections conducted
after December 31, 2009, or the effective date of this act,
whichever is later.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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