Bill Text: PA SB37 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: In voter registration, further providing for methods of voter registration, providing for electronic voter registration application and further providing for preparation and distribution of applications; in changes in records, further providing for change of enrollment of political party; and conferring powers and imposing duties on the Department of State.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-04-22 - Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT [SB37 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2013-SB37-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO.  6

 

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

 

SENATE BILL

No.

37

Session of 2013

 

 

 

INTRODUCED BY SMUCKER, PILEGGI, FARNESE, BAKER, ALLOWAY, ERICKSON, TEPLITZ, FONTANA, WASHINGTON, WILLIAMS, SMITH, FERLO, LEACH AND SCHWANK, JANUARY 4, 2013

 

 

REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 4, 2013

 

 

 

AN ACT

 

Amending Title 25 (Elections) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in voter registration, further providing for
methods of voter registration, providing for electronic voter
registration application and further providing for
preparation and distribution of applications; in changes in
records, further providing for change of enrollment of
political party; and conferring powers and imposing duties on
the Department of State.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 1321 of Title 25 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a paragraph to read:

§ 1321.  Methods of voter registration.

An individual qualified to register to vote under section
1301(a) (relating to qualifications to register) may apply to
register as follows:

* * *

(5)  Under section 1325.1 (relating to electronic voter
registration application).

Section 2.  Title 25 is amended by adding a section to read:

§ 1325.1.  Electronic voter registration application.

(a)  General rule.--An application to register to vote or to
change party enrollment or name or address on a current
registration may be submitted by electronic voter registration
application in the manner provided under this section.

(b)  Establishment.--An electronic voter application shall be
established and implemented by the department within 90 days of
the effective date of this section. The electronic voter
registration application shall comply with the requirements 
under section 1327 (relating to preparation and distribution of
applications). The secretary shall promulgate regulations
necessary to establish, implement and administer the electronic
voter registration application.

(c)  Time.--Registration under this section may be made at
any time. If an electronic voter registration application is
submitted later than 30 days before the election, the
application shall be retained until the beginning of the next
period during which registration can be made.

Section 3.  Sections 1327(a)(3) and (4) and (b)(3) and 1503
of Title 25 are amended to read:

§ 1327.  Preparation and distribution of applications.

(a)  Form.--

* * *

(3)  Any person who assists in the completion of the
registration application shall sign or, in the case of 
registration under section 1325.1 (relating to electronic 
voter registration application), electronically sign the
application and indicate the person's address. In the case of
those registering under sections 1323 (relating to
application with driver's license application) and 1325

(relating to government agencies), the person providing
assistance shall insert the person's initials or employee or
agent identification number on a separate or detachable
portion of the application or computer data file.

(4)  A voter registration application, except a 
registration application under section 1325.1, shall be
printed on stock of good quality and shall be of suitable
uniform size. [Nothing in this part shall prohibit the design
and use of an electronic voter registration application which
includes the applicant's digitized or electronic signature.]
The registration application, including a registration 
application under section 1325.1, shall contain the following
information; however, the information may be provided on a
separate form for voter registration made under section 1323
or 1325:

(i)  Notice that a registered elector does not need
to reregister unless the registered elector has moved.

(ii)  Instructions on how to fill out and submit the
application and notification of when the application must
be submitted to a voter registration office or, for 
registration under section 1325.1, electronically in
order to be registered for the ensuing election.

(iii)  Notice that the applicant must be a citizen of
the United States for at least one month prior to the
next election and a resident of this Commonwealth and the
election district for at least 30 days and must be at
least 18 years of age by the day of the next ensuing
election and has not been confined in a penal institution
for a conviction of a felony within the last five years.
The notice required in this subparagraph shall be in

print identical to the declaration under subsection (b).

(iv)  Notice that political party enrollment is
mandatory to vote in a primary election of a political
party.

(v)  Notice that the commission will mail by
nonforwardable mail to the applicant a voter's
identification card upon acceptance of the application
and that the applicant should contact the commission if
the identification card is not received within 14 days
from the date the application is sent to the registration
office.

(vi)  Notice that registration is not complete until
the application is processed and accepted by the
commission.

(vii)  A warning to the applicant that making a false
registration or furnishing false information is perjury.
The notice required in this subparagraph shall be in
print identical to the declaration under subsection (b).

(viii)  Instructions to Federal or State employees
who wish to retain voting residence in county of last
residence to so indicate on the application.

(ix)  Notice that, if an individual declines to
register to vote, the fact that the individual has
declined to register will remain confidential and will be
used only for voter registration purposes. The notice
required in this subparagraph shall be in print identical
to the declaration under subsection (b).

(x)  Notice that, if an individual does register to
vote, the office at which the individual submits a voter
registration application will remain confidential and

will be used for voter registration purposes only. The
notices required in this subparagraph shall be in print
identical to the declaration in subsection (b).

* * *

(b)  Registration declaration.--

* * *

(3)  The registration declaration shall contain the
printed name [and signature of the applicant and the date of
signing], date of signing and, except for applicants 
submitting a registration under section 1325.1, the signature 
of the applicant. An applicant unable to sign the voter
registration application shall make a mark before a person of
the applicant's choice other than the applicant's employer or
an agent of the applicant's union. The person shall insert
the person's name, address and telephone number. If the
person is an employee or agent of the Department of
Transportation or another agency as provided under section
1325 and is assisting the applicant in an official capacity,
the employee or agent shall insert the initials and
identification number of the employee or agent. In the case
of applicants registering under section 1323 or 1325, the
person providing assistance shall insert initials or employee
or agent identification number on a separate or detachable
portion of the application or computer data file. In the case 
of an applicant registering under section 1325.1, the 
applicant shall be required to verify the applicant's 
identity by providing the last four digits of the applicant's 
Social Security number, the applicant's driver's license 
number or the applicant's identification number issued by the 
Department of Transportation under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1510(b) 

(relating to issuance and content of driver's license). In 
the case of an applicant submitting an electronic voter 
registration application to change party enrollment or name 
or address on a current registration, the applicant may also 
verify identity by providing the applicant's voter 
identification number issued by the Department of 
Transportation under section 206(b) of the act of June 3, 
1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election 
Code.

* * *

§ 1503.  Change of enrollment of political party.

By the deadline for registration, a registered elector who 
desires to change the enrollment of political designation or 
who, although registered, has not previously enrolled as a 
member of a party may appear before a commissioner, registrar or 
clerk or may submit an application by mail under section 1324 
(relating to application by mail) [and state in a signed] or 
electronically under section 1325.1 (relating to electronic 
voter registration application). The elector may state in a 
signed or, in the case of an application submitted under section 
1325.1, verified writing the political party in which the 
registered elector desires to be enrolled. If the signature or 
verification information of the elector is verified by 
comparison with the registered elector's signature or 
verification information as it appears on file with the 
commission, the commissioner, registrar or clerk shall make the 
change in its registration records. [If] In cases other than 
submission of an application under section 1325.1, if supported 
by other evidence of identity, a mark may be made in lieu of a 
signature by a registered elector who is unable to write. The 

mark must be made in the presence of a witness who must sign the 
registration application. For applications submitted under 
section 1325.1, an elector may verify identity by providing the 
last four digits of the elector's Social Security number, the 
elector's driver's license number, the elector's identification 
number issued by the Department of Transportation under 75 
Pa.C.S. § 1510(b) (relating to issuance and content of driver's 
license) or the applicant's voter identification number issued 
by the Department of Transportation under section 206(b) of the 
act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the 
Pennsylvania Election Code.

Section 4.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.