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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2025 - 2026
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 4, 2024 10:21 AM |
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| From: | Senator Michele Brooks |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Managing Confusing Third-Party Mail-In Ballot and Absentee Ballot Mailings |
| I was contacted by a constituent who was rightfully confused and alarmed when receiving the attached mailings (information redacted for privacy purposes), with inaccurate information – One appearing to be directly from the Governor’s office, and one that appears to be from Luzerne County, in which the constituent does not reside. Upon checking with the PA Department of State in order to offer this constituent some clarification and peace of mind, my office was informed that the mailing was not sent by the Department, nor the Governor’s office, and that third-parties can send mailings to voters with an application to submit to receive a mail-in or absentee ballot, and that they have heard from other voters who received similar forms, also with incorrect information. This can be very confusing for voters, who may not know if they have to return these forms as they appear to have been sent from an official office. Or, should they return them, they not get to the appropriate place and the voter may miss their opportunity to cast their ballot Therefore, I will be reintroducing SB 1050 of the 2023-2024 legislative session to address this issue. Cosponsors included Senators Dush, Hutchinson, Bartolotta, Stefano and Pennycuick. This bill will still allow third-parties to send out reminders or information as to how to obtain an absentee or mail-in ballot, but that if they do mail out such a reminder, they have to clearly and boldly state at the top of the document that it is not an official document, and identify who the mailer is from. The third-party document may not mimic any official capacity, including a return mailing address of any governmental office, agency or elected official. Should the third-party violate this, they can face penalties in the form of a fine. I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this legislation. Thank you. |
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