SENATE AMENDED PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1366, 1605, 1652, PRINTER'S NO. 2281 1742, 2217
No. 1212 Session of 1995
INTRODUCED BY LEVDANSKY, CLYMER, KUKOVICH, NICKOL, ITKIN, RUBLEY, MICHLOVIC, KREBS, VAN HORNE, HENNESSEY, HANNA, DEMPSEY, COY, SEMMEL, COWELL, CORNELL, FAJT, MERRY, BELFANTI, BROWNE, MUNDY, BARD, TRELLO, MELIO, ROBINSON, MANDERINO, STURLA, KAISER, MIHALICH, SANTONI, GORDNER, READSHAW, STEELMAN, DeLUCA, ROONEY, STABACK, JOSEPHS, WALKO, LAUGHLIN, TRICH, TRAVAGLIO, BOSCOLA, STETLER, COLAFELLA, PISTELLA, GIGLIOTTI, DALEY, RAMOS, HALUSKA, CAPPABIANCA AND DeWEESE, MARCH 16, 1995
SENATOR TILGHMAN, APPROPRIATIONS, IN SENATE, RE-REPORTED AS AMENDED, JUNE 26, 1995
AN ACT 1 Providing for voter registration, for a Statewide central <-- 2 registry and registration commissions and, for remedies AND <-- 3 FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS; imposing penalties; making 4 appropriations; and making repeals. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS 6 Chapter 1. Preliminary Provisions 7 Section 101. Short title. 8 Section 102. Definitions. 9 Section 103. Applicability. 10 Section 104. Construction. 11 Chapter 3. Registration System 12 Section 301. Registry REGULATIONS. <-- 13 Section 302. Existing electors. 14 Section 303. Commissions.
1 Section 304. Commission staff. 2 Section 305. Police assistance. 3 Section 306. Unexpended balance; source of funds. 4 Section 307. Open records and documents. 5 Chapter 5. Voter Registration 6 Subchapter A. Qualifications 7 Section 501. Qualifications to register. 8 Section 502. Residence of electors. 9 Subchapter B. Procedure 10 Section 521. Methods of voter registration. 11 Section 522. In-person voter registration. 12 Section 523. Application with driver's license application. 13 Section 524. Application by mail. 14 Section 525. Government agencies. 15 Section 526. Time. 16 Section 527. Preparation and distribution of applications. 17 Section 528. Approval of registration applications. 18 Section 529. Challenges. 19 Section 530. Appeals. 20 Chapter 7. Records 21 Section 701. General register. 22 Section 702. District registers. 23 Section 703. Street lists. 24 Section 704. Public information lists. 25 Section 705. Retention of records. 26 Section 706. Reports. 27 Chapter 9. Changes in Records 28 Section 901. Removal notices. 29 Section 902. Transfer of registration. 30 Section 903. Change of enrollment of political party. 19950H1212B2281 - 2 -
1 Section 904. Physical disability. 2 Section 905. Department of Health. 3 Section 906. Residence monitoring. <-- 4 Section 907. Removal of voters. 5 Section 908. Procedure for voting following failure to return 6 notification card. 7 Section 909. Incorrect records. 8 Section 910. Files. 9 Section 911. Errors in cancellation or suspension. 10 SECTION 906. CHECKUP OF REGISTERS. <-- 11 SECTION 907. CANVASS OF REGISTERED ELECTORS. 12 SECTION 908. COMPARISON AND CORRECTION OF REGISTERS. 13 SECTION 909. PETITION TO STRIKE OFF NAMES. 14 SECTION 910. FAILURE TO VOTE. 15 SECTION 911. CANCELLATION, REMOVAL AND PRESERVATION OF 16 REGISTRATION CARDS. 17 SECTION 912. CORRECTION OF ERRORS IN CANCELLATION OR 18 SUSPENSION. 19 Chapter 11. Commission Proceedings 20 Section 1101. Subpoenas and witness fees. 21 Chapter 13. Judicial Review 22 Section 1301. Court of common pleas. 23 Section 1302. Commission duties. 24 Chapter 15. Penalties 25 Section 1501. Lawful orders. 26 Section 1502. Registration. 27 Section 1503. Application. 28 Section 1504. Altering registration. 29 Section 1505. Votes. 30 Section 1506. Duties under act. 19950H1212B2281 - 3 -
1 Section 1507. Official documents. 2 Section 1508. Withholding information. 3 Section 1509. Law enforcement assistance. 4 Section 1510. Interference. 5 Section 1511. Preventing registration. 6 Section 1512. Approval of registration. 7 SECTION 1513. SOLICITATION OF REGISTRATIONS. <-- 8 Section 1513 1514. Crimes Code. <-- 9 Chapter 17. Enforcement 10 Section 1701. Attorney General. 11 Section 1702. District attorneys. 12 CHAPTER 19. PROVISIONS CONTINGENT ON FEDERAL LAW <-- 13 SECTION 1901. REMOVAL OF VOTERS. 14 SECTION 1902. PROCEDURE FOR VOTING FOLLOWING FAILURE TO RETURN 15 NOTIFICATION CARD. 16 SECTION 1903. INCORRECT RECORDS. 17 SECTION 1904. FILES. 18 SECTION 1905. ERRORS IN CANCELLATION. 19 Chapter 51. Miscellaneous Provisions 20 Section 5101. Standardized forms. 21 Section 5102. Application for absentee ballots. 22 Section 5103. Delivering or mailing official absentee ballots. <-- 23 Section 5104. Appropriations. <-- 24 Section 5105. Severability. 25 Section 5106. Repeals. 26 Section 5107. Applicability. 27 Section 5108. Retroactivity. 28 Section 5109. Effective date. 29 SECTION 5104. APPLICABILITY OF PROVISIONS. <-- 30 SECTION 5105. APPROPRIATIONS. 19950H1212B2281 - 4 -
1 SECTION 5106. SEVERABILITY. 2 SECTION 5107. REPEALS. 3 SECTION 5108. APPLICABILITY. 4 SECTION 5109. RETROACTIVITY. 5 SECTION 5110. EFFECTIVE DATE. 6 SECTION 5103. APPLICABILITY OF PROVISIONS. <-- 7 SECTION 5104. APPROPRIATIONS. 8 SECTION 5105. SEVERABILITY. 9 SECTION 5106. REPEALS. 10 SECTION 5107. APPLICABILITY. 11 SECTION 5108. RETROACTIVITY. 12 SECTION 5109. EFFECTIVE DATE. 13 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 14 hereby enacts as follows: 15 CHAPTER 1 16 PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS 17 Section 101. Short title. 18 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania 19 Voter Registration Act. 20 Section 102. Definitions. 21 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall 22 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the 23 context clearly indicates otherwise: 24 "Calendar year." The period commencing January 1 and ending 25 December 31 next following. 26 "Commission." A registration commission established under 27 section 303. 28 "Commissioner." A member of a registration commission. 29 "County." Any county of this Commonwealth. The term includes 30 a county within which is located a city of the first class or 19950H1212B2281 - 5 -
1 with which a city of the first class is coextensive. 2 "County election board." The Board of Elections of a county. 3 "Department." The Department of State of the Commonwealth. 4 "District." An election district or precinct of a 5 municipality. 6 "District register." The registration cards or digitized 7 signature list containing the list of qualified electors: 8 (1) arranged, by election district, alphabetically by 9 last name of the registrant; and 10 (2) prepared by the commission under section 702. 11 "Election." A general, special, municipal or primary 12 election. 13 "General election." The election which the Constitution of 14 Pennsylvania requires to be held in even-numbered years. 15 "In military service." Serving in the uniformed services as 16 defined in section 102 of the Career Compensation Act of 1949 17 (Public Law 81-350, 63 Stat. 801) or serving in the Pennsylvania 18 National Guard. 19 "Members of the merchant marine of the United States." Any 20 of the following: 21 (1) Individuals employed as officers or members of crews 22 of vessels documented under the law of the United States or 23 of vessels owned by the United States or of vessels of 24 foreign-flag registry under charter to or control of the 25 United States. This paragraph does not include individuals in 26 military service. 27 (2) Individuals enrolled with the United States for 28 employment or for training for employment or maintained by 29 the United States for emergency relief service as officers or 30 members of crews of vessels referred to in paragraph (1). The 19950H1212B2281 - 6 -
1 term does not include individuals in military service or 2 individuals employed or enrolled for employment or for 3 training for employment or maintained for emergency relief on 4 the Great Lakes or the inland waterways. 5 "Military elector." Any of the following: 6 (1) An individual in military service and the 7 individual's spouse and dependents. 8 (2) An individual in the merchant marine and the 9 individual's spouse and dependents. 10 (3) An individual in a religious or welfare group 11 officially attached to and serving with the armed forces of 12 the United States and the individual's spouse and dependents. 13 (4) An individual who is a civilian employee of the 14 United States outside the territorial limits of the United 15 States, whether or not the individual is subject to the civil 16 service laws and the Classification Act of 1949 (Public Law 17 81-429, 63 Stat. 954) and whether or not the individual is 18 paid from funds appropriated by Congress, and the 19 individual's spouse and dependents. 20 "Municipal election." The election which the Constitution of 21 Pennsylvania requires to be held in odd-numbered years. 22 "Municipality." A city, borough, town or township. 23 "November election." Either the general or the municipal 24 election, or both, according to the context. 25 "Overseas citizen." An individual who resides outside the 26 territorial limits of the United States and who, but for such 27 residence, would be a qualified elector. The term does not 28 include a military elector. 29 "Party." Any of the following: 30 (1) A party or political body, one of whose candidates 19950H1212B2281 - 7 -
1 at the general election immediately preceding the primary: 2 (i) polled, in each of at least ten counties, at 3 least 2% of the largest entire vote cast in the county 4 for any elected candidate; and 5 (ii) polled a total vote in this Commonwealth equal 6 to at least 2% of the largest entire vote cast in this 7 Commonwealth for any elected candidate. 8 (2) A party or political body, one of whose candidates 9 at either the general or municipal election preceding the 10 primary polled at least 5% of the largest entire vote cast 11 for any elected candidate in any county. 12 "Person authorized to administer oaths." The term includes 13 an individual who is a commissioned officer in military service 14 or a member of the merchant marine of the United States 15 designated for this purpose by the United States Secretary of 16 Commerce. 17 "Person in military service." The term shall mean a 18 qualified elector who is, by enlistment, enrollment or draft in 19 actual military service. 20 "Political body." A political body not recognized as a 21 political party which has filed proper nomination papers as 22 required by law. 23 "Primary election." An election for the nomination of 24 candidates. 25 "Public office." Any Federal, State or political 26 subdivision, office or position of employment requiring the 27 individual elected or appointed to render public service for a 28 fixed fee or compensation. The term does not include the office 29 of notary public or commissioner of deeds. 30 "Qualified elector." An individual who possesses all of the 19950H1212B2281 - 8 -
1 qualifications for voting prescribed by the Constitution of 2 Pennsylvania and the laws of this Commonwealth or who, being 3 otherwise qualified by continued residence in the election 4 district, obtains such qualifications before the next ensuing 5 election. The term does not include a military elector. 6 "Registration card." A registration record containing all 7 information required on the registration application, including 8 the elector's signature, and suitable space for the insertion by 9 the appropriate official of the following information: 10 (1) The ward and election district of residence. 11 (2) The registrant's street address. 12 (3) Data required to be given upon removal from the 13 registrant's residence. 14 (4) The date of each election at which the registrant 15 votes. 16 (5) The number and letter of the stub of the ballot 17 issued to the registrant or the registrant's number in the 18 order of admission to the voting machines. 19 (6) The initials of the election officer who enters the 20 record of voting in the district register. 21 (7) Whether the registrant needs assistance to vote and, 22 if so, the nature of the disability. 23 "Registry." The Statewide central registry of registered <-- 24 qualified electors established under section 301. 25 "Secretary." The Secretary of the Commonwealth. 26 Section 103. Applicability. 27 This act applies to all counties. 28 Section 104. Construction. 29 No part of any day fixed for the performance of duties by any 30 person or official under this act shall be deemed a Sunday or a 19950H1212B2281 - 9 -
1 legal holiday so as to affect the legality of work done for the 2 purpose of carrying out this act or the right of a person to 3 compensation provided for rendering any service required by this 4 act or so as to relieve any person from doing on such day 5 whatever is necessary for the purpose of carrying out this act. 6 Such services are declared to be necessary public services. 7 CHAPTER 3 8 REGISTRATION SYSTEM 9 Section 301. Registry. <-- 10 (a) Establishment.--The secretary has the authority to 11 implement and administer all of the provisions set forth by this 12 act. The secretary's authority includes the ability to establish 13 a Statewide registry and require the county commissioners to be 14 linked to the registry. When the secretary develops a registry, 15 it shall be developed in consultation with the county 16 commissions. The timetable for implementation of the registry 17 shall be established by the secretary. 18 (b) Regulations.--The secretary shall promulgate regulations 19 SECTION 301. REGULATIONS. <-- 20 THE SECRETARY SHALL PROMULGATE REGULATIONS necessary to 21 administer this act. The regulations shall include, but not be 22 limited to, provisions which do all of the following: 23 (1) Provide for applicants to submit their voter 24 registration application to the commission, the Department of 25 Transportation and other agencies designated in section 525. 26 (2) Allow for the future establishment of and <-- 27 maintenance of a Statewide central data base for all voter 28 registration information. 29 (3) Provide procedures for entering data into the 30 registry. 19950H1212B2281 - 10 -
1 (4) Allow the secretary to access the computerized 2 driver's license records of the Department of Transportation 3 and the computerized records of the agencies specified in 4 section 525 for voter registration purposes only. 5 (5) Allow each commission to add, modify and delete 6 information regarding registered qualified electors from its 7 county from the system to provide for accurate and up-to-date 8 records. 9 (6) Allow the secretary and commissions to view the 10 registration records of all commissions in order to ensure 11 the accuracy of each commission's files and allow the 12 secretary and commissions to access the registry for review 13 and search capabilities. 14 (7) Provide security and protection of all information 15 in the registry and ensure that unauthorized entry is not 16 allowed. 17 (8) Prescribe a procedure for phasing in or converting 18 existing voter registration records to the registry in 19 consultation with the county commissions. 20 (9) (2) Prescribe a procedure for the return of 21 completed voter registration applications from the Department 22 of Transportation, the Department of Public Welfare, armed 23 forces recruitment centers, Offices of the Clerk of Orphan's 24 Court and all other offices under this act to the secretary 25 or the appropriate commission. 26 (3) PRESCRIBE A PROCEDURE TO CONDUCT A STUDY OF THE <-- 27 TECHNOLOGICAL NEEDS AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND 28 IMPLEMENTATION OF A STATEWIDE CENTRAL REGISTRY OF REGISTERED 29 QUALIFIED VOTERS AND THE STUDY SHALL BE COMPLETED BY JULY 1, 30 1996. 19950H1212B2281 - 11 -
1 Section 302. Existing electors. 2 All electors registered to vote in this Commonwealth on the 3 effective date of this act remain registered under this act, and 4 all electors registered for Federal elections shall, upon the 5 effective date of this act, become registered for State and 6 local elections. Information required in accordance with section <-- 7 527 shall be entered into the registry as set forth in section 8 301. 9 Section 303. Commissions. 10 (a) Establishment.--A registration commission is established 11 in each county. The commission has jurisdiction over the 12 registration of electors of the county under this act. 13 (b) Membership.-- 14 (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), the 15 county commissioners of each county shall act as a 16 registration commission for the county. 17 (2) In a city of the first class, the commission shall 18 consist of the three elected commissioners of the city. Each 19 commissioner shall be elected for a term of four years, in 20 the year that the mayor is elected. 21 (3) In counties which have adopted home rule charters or 22 optional plans, the commission shall consist of the members 23 of the county body which performs legislative functions 24 unless the county charter or optional plan provides for the 25 appointment of the commission. In either case, there must be 26 minority representation on the commission. The county body 27 which performs legislative functions shall, if the commission 28 does not contain minority representation appoint such 29 representation, from a list submitted by the county chair of 30 the minority party. 19950H1212B2281 - 12 -
1 (c) Compensation.--Commissioners shall receive no 2 compensation in addition to their compensation as county or city 3 commissioners. 4 (d) Majority vote required.--Actions of a commission must be 5 decided by a majority vote of all members except as otherwise 6 provided in this act. 7 (e) Records.--A commission shall keep a permanent record of 8 its proceedings. 9 (f) Regulations.--A commission may make regulations, not 10 inconsistent with this act, to do all of the following: 11 (1) Govern the public sessions of the commission. 12 (2) Perform the duties imposed by this act. 13 (3) Carry into effect the provisions of this act and 14 permit the efficient administration of this act, including 15 the designation of duties to be performed and functions to be 16 exercised under this act at its respective offices. 17 (g) Enforcement.--A commission may enforce regulations, 18 orders and subpoenas as provided in section 1101 and, if 19 necessary, shall have the assistance of the appropriate court of 20 common pleas and of all public officers subservient to the 21 court, in enforcing the regulations, orders and subpoenas. 22 (h) Errors.--A commission has the power to correct an error 23 or irregularity in registration and to cancel the registration 24 of an individual whom it finds to be improperly registered, 25 subject only to this act. Written notice must be mailed or 26 delivered to each individual whose registration is canceled. 27 Whenever a registered elector's name is changed for any reason, 28 the initial registration number shall remain the same and the 29 file shall reflect the former name change to the new name. 30 (i) Investigation.--A commission or a commissioner has the 19950H1212B2281 - 13 -
1 power to do any of the following: 2 (1) Summon and interrogate any person concerning the 3 registration of electors or any matter related thereto. 4 (2) Investigate irregularities in registration. 5 (3) Summon and examine witnesses. 6 (4) Require the production of relevant documents. 7 (j) Oaths and affirmations.--Each commissioner has the power 8 to administer oaths and affirmations. Each individual testifying 9 before a commission or commissioner must be sworn or affirmed. 10 (k) Correction of errors.-- 11 (1) A commission has the power to correct its records 12 without requiring action of a registered elector in any of 13 the following cases: 14 (i) If the mailing address of the registered elector 15 has been changed by the renaming of a street, the 16 renumbering of a house or the changing of a post office. 17 (ii) If the election district of the registered 18 elector has been changed through a change in the 19 boundaries of an election district. 20 (2) Notice of action under paragraph (1) shall be mailed 21 promptly to the affected registered elector. 22 Section 304. Commission staff. 23 (a) Counties of the first class.-- 24 (1) A commissioner may act as registrar or inspector of 25 registration. 26 (2) The commission has the power to assign assistants, 27 employees or clerks to act as registrars or inspectors of 28 registration. Individuals assigned under this paragraph shall 29 not receive additional compensation for service as registrars 30 or inspectors. 19950H1212B2281 - 14 -
1 (3) Appointments shall be as follows: 2 (i) The commission shall annually appoint at least 3 two registrars for each registration place. Not more than 4 one-half of the number of registrars appointed annually 5 for each registration place may be members of the same 6 political party. 7 (ii) Registrars appointed must be qualified electors 8 of the election district or ward for which they have been 9 appointed, must be of good moral character, must not have 10 been convicted of a crime, and must be familiar with the 11 qualifications of electors and the duties of the 12 registrars. No individual who holds or is a candidate for 13 public office or party office may be appointed to or hold 14 any office or employment under any commission, except as 15 otherwise provided by this act. 16 (iii) Appointments shall be as follows: 17 (A) The commission shall provide 15 days' notice 18 for submission of candidates. 19 (B) The city chairs of the party having polled 20 the highest and the second highest vote in this 21 Commonwealth at the last preceding gubernatorial 22 election may file with the commission a written list 23 of names of members of the party whom the chair 24 recommends for appointment as registrars. Lists must 25 contain the name, address, qualifications and 26 occupation of each individual recommended and shall 27 be open to public inspection in the office of the 28 commission. 29 (C) The commission shall appoint individuals 30 from the list as registrars representing the parties. 19950H1212B2281 - 15 -
1 If more candidates are recommended by a chair than 2 the party is entitled to have appointed, the 3 commission shall appoint those candidates from the 4 list whom the commission finds to be qualified under 5 this section. If there are not sufficient candidates 6 qualified to serve recommended by a chair, the 7 commission may appoint other individuals whom the 8 commission believes qualified. 9 (D) If a vacancy occurs in the office of 10 registrar, the commission shall fill the vacancy by 11 appointing an elector of the district or ward, as the 12 case may be, who is qualified under subparagraph (ii) 13 and who is a registered and enrolled member of the 14 same political party as the registrar whose office 15 was vacated. The vacancy appointment shall be made in 16 the same manner as the initial appointment. 17 (iv) Registrars appointed have the power to register 18 the qualified electors of the election district or ward 19 and, in so doing, to administer oaths and affirmations. 20 Registrars appointed shall perform all other duties 21 imposed on registrars by this act and by the commission. 22 (v) Nothing in this subsection shall prevent a 23 registrar from serving as a registrar in a ward or 24 division of the city, or prevent the commission from 25 assigning a registrar to register voters in a ward or 26 division of the city. 27 (vi) Except as provided in paragraph (1), each 28 registrar shall receive compensation set by the 29 commission for each day during which the registrar is 30 engaged in the active performance of duties as registrar. 19950H1212B2281 - 16 -
1 (vii) The commission shall designate the duties to 2 be performed by appointed registrars. 3 (4) Any insertion or removal of names or other 4 information in registers or an amendment of records done by 5 any employee, registrar or inspector by order of the 6 commission shall be construed to be an action of the 7 commission. It is the duty of the commission to correct any 8 error in such action. 9 (5) Before exercising a power of office, a registrar or 10 inspector of registration assigned under paragraph (2) or 11 appointed under paragraph (3) must comply with all of the 12 following: 13 (i) Take an oath or affirmation of office, as 14 prescribed by the commission. 15 (ii) Receive from the commission a certificate of 16 appointment, setting forth name and address, date of 17 appointment and the length of appointment. 18 (6) The commission may annually designate registration 19 places in the wards. 20 (7) The commission may appoint employees necessary to 21 perform the functions of the office and to register the 22 voters of the city. Employees shall be paid compensation as 23 set by the commission. 24 (8) Removal shall be as follows: 25 (i) The commission has the power to remove any 26 employee, inspector, registrar or other officer appointed 27 or employed by it. No registrar appointed under paragraph 28 (3) may be removed except for cause. 29 (ii) A qualified elector of the city may appear 30 before the commission and show that a registrar assigned 19950H1212B2281 - 17 -
1 under paragraph (2) or appointed under paragraph (3) does 2 not possess the qualifications requisite for the 3 performance of duties of office or has violated this act. 4 If, after public hearing, the commission finds the 5 charges brought to be true, the commission shall remove 6 the registrar. 7 (9) An inspector of registration has the authority to 8 investigate all matters regarding voter registration and to 9 make recommendations to the commission. 10 (10) The commission may employ counsel. Counsel shall 11 advise the commission regarding its powers and duties, the 12 rights of electors and the best methods of legal procedure 13 for carrying out this act and shall appear for and represent 14 the commission on all appeals under Chapter 13. The amount of 15 compensation for counsel shall be set by the city 16 commissioners. 17 (11) Employees and clerks of the commission shall be 18 privileged from arrest while acting as registrars. 19 Commissioners and inspectors of registration shall be 20 privileged from arrest while performing their duties, except 21 upon warrant of a court of record for a felony, for wanton 22 breach of the peace or for a criminal violation of this act. 23 (b) Counties of the second through eighth classes.-- 24 (1) The registration commission shall appoint a chief 25 clerk, who may be the chief clerk of the county 26 commissioners. The chief clerk has authority to administer 27 oaths and to sign vouchers. 28 (2) Registrars and inspectors of registration must be 29 qualified electors of the county. Registrars and inspectors 30 of registration shall receive compensation, either on a per 19950H1212B2281 - 18 -
1 diem basis for time actually employed or on the basis of work 2 actually done, as fixed by the salary board of the county. No 3 registrar or inspector of registration may exercise any power 4 of office until taking an oath or affirmation of office 5 prescribed by the commission and receiving from the 6 commission a certificate of appointment, setting forth name 7 and address, date of appointment and length of appointment. 8 (3) Other staff shall be as follows: 9 (i) A commission may appoint assistants and 10 employees as necessary to carry out this act and may 11 remove them. The number and compensation of assistants 12 and employees shall be fixed by the salary board of the 13 county. A commission may appoint employees of the county 14 to act for the commission without additional 15 compensation. 16 (ii) The employees to be appointed by a commission 17 include: 18 (A) Registrars or clerks who are empowered to 19 register the qualified electors of the county and, in 20 so doing, to administer oaths and affirmations. 21 (B) Inspectors of registration who have 22 authority to investigate all matters regarding voter 23 registration and to make recommendations to the 24 commission. 25 (4) The county solicitor shall be counsel for the 26 commission and shall receive no compensation in addition to 27 compensation as county solicitor. Counsel shall advise the 28 commission regarding its powers and duties and the rights of 29 electors and concerning the best methods of legal procedure 30 for carrying out this act and shall appear for and represent 19950H1212B2281 - 19 -
1 the commission on appeals taken from its decisions or orders. 2 (5) Any insertion or removal of names or other 3 information in registers and the amendment of records done by 4 any employee of a commission or by order of a commission 5 shall be construed to have been done by the commission. The 6 commission shall be responsible for the correction of errors. 7 (6) No individual who holds or is a candidate for public 8 or party office may be appointed to or hold any office or 9 employment under any commission, except as otherwise provided 10 by this act. 11 (7) Commissioners, registrars and inspectors of 12 registration shall be privileged from arrest while performing 13 their duties except upon warrant of a court of record, for a 14 felony, for wanton breach of the peace or for a criminal 15 violation of this act. 16 (8) A commissioner or the chief clerk may act as 17 registrar or inspector of registration. When acting under 18 this subsection, the commissioner or chief clerk has the 19 powers and duties conferred by law upon registrars and 20 inspectors of registration. 21 Section 305. Police assistance. 22 A commission may call on police officers of the appropriate 23 municipality to maintain the peace at a place of registration. 24 Section 306. Unexpended balance; source of funds. 25 (a) Unexpended balance.--Unexpended balances of 26 appropriations made by the county commissioners prior to the 27 effective date of this act for the purpose of carrying out the 28 act of March 30, 1937 (P.L.115, No.40), known as The First Class 29 City Permanent Registration Act, and the act of April 29, 1937 30 (P.L.487, No.115), known as The Permanent Registration Act for 19950H1212B2281 - 20 -
1 Cities of the Second Class, Cities of the Second Class A, Cities 2 of the Third Class, Boroughs, Towns, and Townships, are 3 transferred to and made available for commissions under this 4 act. 5 (b) Source of funds.--A commission may accept and use in the 6 performance of its duties funds received from the Federal 7 Government, the Commonwealth or any other source. 8 Section 307. Open records and documents. 9 (a) Scope.--The following documents under this act are open 10 to public inspection except as otherwise provided in this 11 section: 12 (1) Records of a registration commission and of district 13 registers. 14 (2) Street lists. 15 (3) Official voter registration applications. 16 (4) Petitions and appeals. 17 (5) Witness lists. 18 (6) Accounts and contracts. 19 (7) Reports. 20 (b) Exception.--The Statewide central registry is not an <-- 21 open record or document under this section or any other act. 22 (c) (B) Use.--Open material under subsection (a) may be <-- 23 inspected during ordinary business hours subject to the 24 efficient operation of the commission. Public inspection shall 25 only be in the presence of a commissioner or authorized 26 commission employee and shall be subject to proper regulation 27 for safekeeping of the material and subject to this act. Upon 28 request, a photocopy of the record or computer-generated data 29 record shall be provided at cost. The material may not be used 30 for commercial or improper purposes. 19950H1212B2281 - 21 -
1 CHAPTER 5 2 VOTER REGISTRATION 3 SUBCHAPTER A 4 QUALIFICATIONS 5 Section 501. Qualifications to register. 6 (a) Eligibility.--A qualified elector who will be at least 7 18 years of age on the day of the next election, who has been a 8 citizen of the United States for at least one month PRIOR TO THE <-- 9 NEXT ELECTION and who has resided in this Commonwealth and the 10 election district where the qualified elector offers to vote for 11 at least 30 days prior to the next ensuing election AND HAS NOT <-- 12 BEEN CONFINED IN A PENAL INSTITUTION FOR A CONVICTION OF A 13 FELONY WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS shall be entitled to be 14 registered as provided in this chapter. If an individual is 15 qualified to vote in an election district prior to removal of 16 residence, the individual may, if a resident of this 17 Commonwealth, vote in the election district from which residence 18 was removed within the 30 days preceding the election. 19 (b) Effect.--No individual shall be permitted to vote at any 20 election unless the individual is registered under this 21 subsection, except as provided by law or by order of a court of 22 common pleas. No registered elector shall be required to 23 register again for any election while the elector continues to 24 reside at the same address. 25 Section 502. Residence of electors. 26 (a) General rule.-- 27 (1) For the purpose of registration and voting, no 28 individual shall be deemed to have gained a residence by 29 reason of presence or lost a residence by reason of absence 30 in any of the following circumstances: 19950H1212B2281 - 22 -
1 (i) Being employed in the service, either civil or 2 military, of this Commonwealth or of the United States. 3 (ii) Being engaged in the navigation of the waters 4 of this Commonwealth or of the United States or on the 5 high seas. 6 (iii) Being in an institution at public expense. 7 This subparagraph does not apply to a veteran who resides 8 in a home for disabled and indigent soldiers and sailors 9 maintained by the Commonwealth. Such a veteran may elect 10 to utilize that residence for registration and voting or 11 elect to vote as an absentee elector by the use of an 12 absentee ballot. 13 (2) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall preclude any elector 14 eligible under section 501 from establishing the district of 15 residence as the election district of residence pursuant to 16 subsection (b). 17 (3) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, no 18 individual who is confined in a penal institution shall be 19 deemed a resident of the election district where the 20 institution is located. The individual shall be deemed to 21 reside where the individual was last registered before being 22 confined in the penal institution; or, if there was no 23 registration prior to confinement, the individual shall be 24 deemed to reside at the last known address before 25 confinement. 26 (4) An individual who resides at an institution for the 27 mentally ill or the mentally retarded, if otherwise qualified 28 under section 501, shall be deemed, at the individual's 29 option, a resident in one of the following: 30 (i) The district where the institution is located. 19950H1212B2281 - 23 -
1 (ii) The district where the individual was last 2 registered to vote before entering the institution. For 3 purposes of this subparagraph, if the individual was not 4 registered before entering the institution, the 5 individual shall be deemed to reside at the last known 6 address before entering the institution. 7 (b) Rules for determination.--The following apply: 8 (1) That the place shall be considered the residence of 9 an individual in which habitation is fixed and to which, 10 whenever the individual is absent, the individual has the 11 intention of returning. 12 (2) An individual shall not be considered to have lost 13 residence if the individual leaves home and goes into another 14 state or another election district for temporary purposes 15 only, with the intention of returning. 16 (3) An individual shall not be considered to have gained 17 a residence in an election district if the individual comes 18 into that district for temporary purposes only, without the 19 intention of making that election district a permanent place 20 of abode. 21 (4) If an individual removes to another state with the 22 intention of making that state the permanent residence, the 23 individual shall be considered to have lost residence in this 24 Commonwealth. 25 (5) If an individual removes to another state with the 26 intention of remaining there an indefinite time and making 27 that state the place of residence, the individual shall be 28 considered to have lost residence in this Commonwealth, 29 notwithstanding an intention to return at some indefinite 30 future period. 19950H1212B2281 - 24 -
1 (6) If an individual goes into another state and, while 2 there, votes in an election held by that state, the 3 individual shall be considered to have lost residence in this 4 Commonwealth. 5 (7) An individual employed in the service of the Federal 6 Government or of the Commonwealth and required thereby to be 7 absent from the municipality where the individual resided 8 when entering that employment, and the spouse of the 9 individual, may remain registered in the district where the 10 individual resided immediately prior to entering that 11 employment; and the individual and the spouse shall be 12 enrolled in the political party designated by the individual 13 or spouse without declaring a residence by street and number. 14 (i) An individual who registers under this paragraph 15 for Commonwealth employment must produce a certificate 16 from the head of the State agency, under the seal of 17 office, setting forth that the individual or the 18 individual's spouse is actually employed in the service 19 of the Commonwealth and setting forth the nature of the 20 employment and the time when the employee first entered 21 the employment. The commission shall retain certificates 22 under this subparagraph. 23 (ii) The commission shall note on the registration 24 card of each individual registered under this paragraph 25 the fact of Federal or State employment. 26 (iii) At least once every two years the commission 27 shall verify the employment of the individuals registered 28 under this paragraph at the proper Federal or State 29 office. If an individual is found to be no longer a 30 Federal or State employee, the individual's registration 19950H1212B2281 - 25 -
1 shall be canceled under Chapter 9. 2 SUBCHAPTER B 3 PROCEDURE 4 Section 521. Methods of voter registration. 5 An individual qualified to register to vote under section 6 501(a) may apply to register as follows: 7 (1) In person under section 522. 8 (2) In conjunction with an application for a motor 9 vehicle driver's license under section 523. 10 (3) By mail application under section 524. 11 (4) In conjunction with certain government agency 12 services under section 525. 13 Section 522. In-person voter registration. 14 (a) General rule.--Applications may be submitted to register 15 to vote or change party enrollment or name or address on current 16 registration record in person before the registration commission 17 or a commissioner, a registrar or a clerk at the office of the 18 commission or at a place designated by the commission. The 19 applicant shall be advised that any intentional false statement 20 on the application constitutes perjury and will be punishable as 21 such. The applicant shall provide the information required on 22 the registration application and sign the registration 23 declaration. The commission shall prepare and provide voter 24 registration applications for the purpose of registering 25 qualified electors in accordance with this section. 26 Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, the commission 27 may use a mail registration application for in-person 28 registration. The commission shall mail the voter's 29 identification card in accordance with section 527(a)(4)(v). 30 (b) Notice.--The commission shall, within a reasonable time, 19950H1212B2281 - 26 -
1 publicly announce the address of each place of registration, the 2 address of each office of the commission established for the 3 registration of electors other than its main office and the days 4 and hours when the place or office is open for the registration 5 of electors. The announcement shall be made by posting notice at 6 the place or office and at the commission's main office and by 7 other means as the commission deems advisable. 8 (c) Polls.--The election board of each county shall cause 9 any polling place to be open, in proper order for use, as a 10 place of registration, on each day when the polling place is 11 desired by the commission or required by the provisions of this 12 act for use as a place of registration. The appropriating 13 authority of the county shall provide for the payment of rentals 14 for such polling places and other places of registration. 15 (d) Schools.--The board of public education or the board of 16 school directors shall furnish suitable space in any public 17 school building under its jurisdiction or control and shall 18 cause the space to be open and in proper order for use as a 19 place of registration on each day when the space is desired by 20 the commission for use as a place of registration in accordance 21 with the provisions of this act. Use under this subsection may 22 not interfere with school instruction. 23 (e) Municipal buildings.--The proper authority in the county 24 or municipality shall furnish suitable space in a building under 25 its jurisdiction or control and shall cause the space to be open 26 and in proper order for use as a place of registration on each 27 day when the space is desired by the commission for use as a 28 place of registration. Use under this subsection may not 29 interfere with the use for which the space is primarily 30 designed. 19950H1212B2281 - 27 -
1 Section 523. Application with driver's license application. 2 (a) General rule.-- 3 (1) The Department of Transportation shall provide for 4 simultaneous application for voter registration in 5 conjunction with the process under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1510 6 (relating to issuance and content of driver's license). An 7 application under this subsection shall serve as an 8 application to register to vote unless the applicant fails to 9 sign the voter registration application. The secretary has 10 the primary responsibility for implementing and enforcing the 11 driver's license voter registration system created under this 12 section. The secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of 13 Transportation, may promulgate regulations for implementing 14 this section. 15 (2) An application for voter registration submitted to 16 the Department of Transportation under this subsection shall 17 be considered as updating any previous voter registration 18 information by the applicant. 19 (3) Any change of address submitted under 75 Pa.C.S. § <-- 20 1515 (relating to notice of change of name or address) TO THE <-- 21 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF DRIVER 22 LICENSING shall serve as notification of change of address 23 for voter registration for the registrant involved unless the 24 registrant indicates that the change of address is not for 25 voter registration purposes. 26 (b) Process.-- 27 (1) The Department of Transportation shall provide for 28 an application for voter registration as part of a driver's 29 license application. 30 (2) The format of the driver's license/voter 19950H1212B2281 - 28 -
1 registration application shall be determined and prescribed 2 by the secretary and the Secretary of Transportation. 3 (3) The voter registration application portion of the 4 application shall contain all the requirements of an official 5 voter registration application specified in section 527. The 6 voter registration portion of the application: 7 (i) may not require any information that duplicates 8 information required in the driver's license portion of 9 the form, other than a second signature; and 10 (ii) may require only the minimum amount of 11 information necessary to prevent duplicate voter 12 registration, to enable the registration commission to 13 assess the eligibility of the applicant and to administer 14 voter registration and other parts of the election 15 process. 16 (c) Transmission.-- 17 (1) The Department of Transportation shall forward 18 completed applications or contents of the completed voter 19 registration applications in machine-readable format to the 20 department. 21 (2) The department shall transmit the material to the 22 appropriate commission within ten days after the date of its 23 receipt by the Department of Transportation. If a voter 24 registration application is received by the Department of 25 Transportation within five days before the last day to 26 register before an election, the application shall be 27 transmitted to the appropriate commission not later than five 28 days after the date of its receipt by the Department of 29 Transportation. 30 (3) Upon receipt of the completed voter registration 19950H1212B2281 - 29 -
1 information from the department, the commission shall make a 2 record of the date of the receipt of the application and 3 process the application. No applicant shall be deemed 4 eligible to vote until the commission has received and 5 approved the application. 6 (4) Changes of address shall comply with the following: 7 (i) The Department of Transportation shall notify 8 the secretary of changes of address received under 9 subsection (a)(3). The secretary shall notify the 10 commission of the county of the registrant's prior 11 residence. Except as provided in subparagraph (ii), if 12 the registrant has moved outside of the county, the 13 commission shall forward the registrant's registration 14 card to the commission of the registrant's new county of 15 residence. Except as provided in subparagraph (ii), if 16 the registrant has moved to an address within the 17 commission's jurisdiction, the commission shall update 18 the registration record of the registrant. 19 (ii) In the case of changes of address received by 20 the Department of Transportation which do not contain a 21 signature of the registrant, the commission receiving the 22 change of address notification shall mail a notice to the 23 registrant at the new residence address requesting 24 verification of the address change. The verification 25 notice shall be in substantially the following form: 26 Date................ 27 Office of the Registration Commission 28 .......... County, Pennsylvania 29 ........ (Address and Telephone No. of County) 30 We have been notified by the Department of Transportation 19950H1212B2281 - 30 -
1 that you recently moved from ................. (old 2 residence address) to ............... (new residence 3 address) and that this change of address is to serve as a 4 change of address for voter registration purposes. Unless 5 you notify this office within ten days from the date of 6 this notice that this information is not correct, your 7 voter registration will be transferred to ........... 8 County. You may notify this office by calling the 9 telephone number appearing on this form or by mailing 10 this notice to this office. You need not notify this 11 office if this information is correct. 12 ............................ 13 Chief Clerk 14 If the address change is within the commission's 15 jurisdiction the county shall notify the registrant what 16 precinct the new address is in using the following form: 17 Date............... 18 Office of the Registration Commission 19 ............ County, Pennsylvania 20 .......... (Address and Telephone No. of County) 21 We have been notified by the Department of Transportation 22 that you recently moved from ................. (old 23 residence address) to (new residence address) and that 24 this change of address is to serve as a change of address 25 for voter registration purposes. Unless you notify this 26 office within ten days from the date of this notice that 27 this information is not correct, your voter registration 28 will be transferred to ................ (new precinct) in 29 this county. You may notify this office by calling the 30 telephone number appearing on this form or by mailing 19950H1212B2281 - 31 -
1 this notice to this office. You need not notify this
2 office if this information is correct.
3 ............................
4 Chief Clerk
5 Such notices must be sent by first class nonforwardable
6 mail, return postage guaranteed, and must be in a form
7 approved by the secretary and designed in such a manner
8 to allow the registrant to indicate that the address
9 change is incorrect, the reason why such discrepancy
10 exists and for return to the county commission. Such
11 notice must be signed by the registrant and dated.
12 (iii) If the registrant does not return the notice
13 under subparagraph (ii) within the ten-day period, the
14 commission shall process the change of address according
15 to subparagraph (i). If the registrant notifies the
16 commission that the information is incorrect and the
17 commission is satisfied with the registrant's explanation
18 of the discrepancy, the address of the registrant's
19 registration shall remain unchanged. If the verification
20 notification is returned by the post office, the
21 commission shall direct a confirmation notice to the
22 registrant's address of former residence in accordance
23 with section 907(d)(2) 1901(D)(2). <--
24 (d) Prohibition.--An individual who is not a qualified
25 elector is ineligible to register to vote under this section.
26 (e) Effect.--Failure to properly complete a voter
27 registration application shall not affect the validity of an
28 application for a driver's license, a renewal application or an
29 identification card application.
30 (f) Use of information.--No information regarding a
19950H1212B2281 - 32 -
1 declination to register to vote in connection with an 2 application made under this section may be used for any purpose 3 other than voter registration. 4 (g) Staff.--Agents and employees working on behalf of the 5 Department of Transportation assisting in the completion of 6 voter registration applications shall conduct themselves in a 7 manner consistent with the following principles: 8 (1) They shall not seek to influence an applicant's 9 political preference or party registration or display 10 political preference or party allegiance. 11 (2) They shall not make a statement to an applicant or 12 take an action the purpose or effect of which is to 13 discourage the applicant from registering to vote. 14 (3) Applicants wishing to register to vote under this 15 section shall be given the same degree of assistance with the 16 voter registration application as with all other Department 17 of Transportation forms. 18 Agency employees who violate this subsection shall be removed 19 from employment, provided that the agency at its discretion may 20 impose a penalty of suspension without pay for at least 30 days, 21 but not more than 120 days, if it finds that the violation does 22 not warrant termination. 23 (h) Reimbursement.--The department shall reimburse the <-- 24 Department of Transportation costs incurred in operating the 25 voter registration program, as determined in a memorandum of 26 understanding between the Department of Transportation and the 27 department. 28 Section 524. Application by mail. 29 (a) General rule.--An application to register to vote or to 30 change party enrollment or name or address on a current 19950H1212B2281 - 33 -
1 registration may be submitted by voter registration mail
2 application in the manner set forth in this section. An
3 application may be submitted by mail or by representative to the
4 registration commission on an official mail registration
5 application, the form of which shall be determined and
6 prescribed by the secretary or the Federal Election Commission
7 pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act (Public Law 103-
8 31, 42 U.S.C. § 1973gg et seq.). The applicant must complete the
9 information required on the registration application and sign
10 the registration declaration.
11 (b) Time.--Registration under this section may be made at
12 any time. If a registration application is received by a
13 commission beyond the deadline for registration provided in
14 section 527 526, the application shall be retained by the <--
15 commission until the beginning of the next period during which
16 registration can be made.
17 (c) Military electors.--
18 (1) A military elector may apply at any time for
19 registration on an official registration application or any
20 form prescribed by the Federal Government for such purpose.
21 (2) The status of a military elector to register under
22 this section with respect to residence shall remain as the
23 same home residence status from which the elector is
24 qualified to register. If, at the time of leaving that home
25 address, the elector had not resided in this Commonwealth or
26 in a particular election district for a sufficient time to
27 have been entitled to be registered but, by continued
28 residence, would have become entitled to be registered, the
29 elector shall be entitled to be registered at the time the
30 elector would have been entitled to register had the elector
19950H1212B2281 - 34 -
1 not left that home address but continued to reside there. 2 (3) The commission is authorized to consider a request 3 for an absentee ballot as a request for an official 4 registration application and to forward to the requester all 5 of the following: 6 (i) An absentee ballot and balloting material. 7 (ii) An official registration application. 8 (4) The military elector must complete and file these 9 documents in accordance with the applicable provisions of the 10 act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the 11 Pennsylvania Election Code. 12 (5) THE RIGHT TO BE REGISTERED PURSUANT TO THIS <-- 13 SUBSECTION SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO CHALLENGE FOR ANY REASON 14 OTHER THAN FAILURE TO HAVE FURNISHED THE COMMISSION A 15 PROPERLY COMPLETED REGISTRATION APPLICATION. 16 Section 525. Government agencies. 17 (a) General rule.--The secretary shall administer a system 18 whereby all offices in this Commonwealth that provide public 19 assistance, each county clerk of Orphan's Court, including each 20 Marriage License Bureau, all offices in this Commonwealth that 21 provide State-funded programs primarily engaged in providing 22 services to persons with disabilities and all armed forces 23 recruitment centers do all of the following: 24 (1) Distribute voter registration applications with each 25 application; reapplication; and application for 26 recertification, renewal or change of address. 27 (2) Assist applicants with completion of the 28 registration application unless assistance is refused. 29 (3) Accept completed registration applications. 30 (4) Transmit completed applications to the appropriate 19950H1212B2281 - 35 -
1 registration commission. 2 (b) Forms.--An agency designated in subsection (a) shall 3 provide a form for office visits or, if the agency provides 4 services to persons with disabilities, for home visits which 5 contains all of the following: 6 (1) The question, "If you are not registered to vote 7 where you live now, would you like to apply to register to 8 vote today?" 9 (2) If the agency provides public assistance, the 10 statement, "Applying to register or declining to register to 11 vote will not affect the amount of assistance that you will 12 be provided by this agency." 13 (3) Boxes for the applicant to check to indicate whether 14 the applicant would like to register or decline to register 15 to vote. In close proximity to the boxes the following words 16 shall appear in prominent type: "IF YOU DO NOT CHECK EITHER 17 BOX, YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE DECIDED NOT TO REGISTER 18 TO VOTE AT THIS TIME." 19 (4) The statement, "In order to be qualified to register 20 to vote, you must be at least 18 years of age on the day of 21 the next election, you must have been a citizen of the United 22 States for at least one month PRIOR TO THE NEXT ELECTION and <-- 23 have resided in Pennsylvania and the election district where 24 you plan to vote for at least 30 days prior to the next 25 election AND YOU MUST NOT HAVE BEEN CONFINED TO A PENAL <-- 26 INSTITUTION FOR A CONVICTION OF A FELONY WITHIN THE LAST FIVE 27 YEARS." 28 (5) The statement, "If you would like help in filling 29 out the voter registration application form, we will help 30 you. The decision whether to seek help is yours. You may fill 19950H1212B2281 - 36 -
1 out the form in private." 2 (6) Transmit each change of address to the appropriate <-- 3 registration commission. 4 (7) (6) The statement, "If you believe that someone has <-- 5 interfered with your right to register or to decline to 6 register to vote, your right to privacy in deciding whether 7 to register or in applying to register to vote, or your right 8 to choose your own political party or other political 9 preference, you may file a complaint with the Secretary of 10 the Commonwealth, Pennsylvania Department of State, 11 Harrisburg, PA 17120." The secretary shall establish and 12 publish a toll-free telephone number for the purpose of 13 receiving complaints. 14 (c) Effect.--Failure to check either box under subsection 15 (b)(3) shall be considered a declination to register to vote. 16 (d) Staff.--Agency employees assisting in the completion of 17 voter registration applications shall conduct themselves in a 18 manner consistent with the following principles: 19 (1) They shall not seek to influence an applicant's 20 political preference or party registration or display 21 political preference or party allegiance. 22 (2) They shall not make any statement to an applicant or 23 take any action the purpose of or effect of which is to 24 discourage the applicant from registering to vote. 25 (3) They shall not make any statement to an applicant or 26 take any action the purpose or effect of which is to lead the 27 applicant to believe that a decision to register or not to 28 register has any bearing on the availability of services or 29 benefits. 30 Agency employees who violate this subsection shall be removed 19950H1212B2281 - 37 -
1 from employment, provided that the agency at its discretion may 2 impose a penalty of suspension without pay for at least 30 days, 3 but not more than 120 days, if it finds that the violation does 4 not warrant termination. 5 (e) Encouraging registration.--An agency designated in 6 subsection (a) shall provide reasonable space for nonpartisan 7 signs or posters encouraging voter registration. The signs and 8 posters shall be provided by the secretary. 9 (f) Transmission.--An agency designated in subsection (a) 10 shall forward all completed registration applications to the 11 appropriate registration commission within ten days after the 12 date of receipt. If a voter registration application is received 13 within five days before the last day to register before an 14 election, the application shall be transmitted to the 15 appropriate commission not later than five days after the date 16 of its receipt by the agency. 17 (g) Confidentiality.--The identity of the voter registration 18 agency through which any particular voter is registered in 19 accordance with this section shall not be disclosed to the 20 public. 21 (h) Use of information.--No information relating to a 22 declination to register to vote in connection with an 23 application made at an office described in this section may be 24 used for any purpose other than voter registration. 25 (i) Assistance.--Each agency shall provide to each applicant 26 who chooses to register to vote the same degree of assistance 27 with regard to the completion of the registration application 28 form as is provided by the office with regard to the completion 29 of its own forms, unless the applicant refuses such assistance. 30 (j) Regulation.--The secretary shall promulgate regulations 19950H1212B2281 - 38 -
1 regarding the maintenance and destruction of forms used pursuant 2 to this section. 3 Section 526. Time. 4 (a) General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (b), 5 each registration commission, commissioners and registrars or 6 clerks appointed by the commission shall receive, during 7 ordinary business hours and during additional hours as the 8 commission prescribes, at the office of the commission and at 9 additional places as the commission designates, applications 10 from individuals who appear and claim that they are entitled to 11 be registered as electors of a municipality. 12 (b) Deadlines.--In the administration of voter registration, 13 each commission shall ensure that any eligible applicant is 14 registered to vote in an election when the applicant has met any 15 of the following conditions: 16 (1) In the case of voter registration with a motor 17 vehicle driver's license application under section 523, if 18 the valid voter registration application is submitted to the 19 appropriate Department of Transportation office not later 20 than 30 days before the date of the election. 21 (2) In the case of registration by mail under section 22 524, if the valid voter registration mail application is 23 postmarked not later than the deadline to register for the 24 ensuing election or, in the case of an illegible or missing 25 postmark, it is received not later than five days after the 26 deadline to register for the ensuing election. 27 (3) In the case of voter registration at a voter 28 registration agency under section 525, if the valid voter 29 registration application is accepted at the voter 30 registration agency not later than 30 days before the date of 19950H1212B2281 - 39 -
1 the election. 2 (4) In any other case, if the valid voter registration 3 application of the applicant is received by the appropriate 4 commission not later than 30 days before the election. 5 (c) Special rules.-- 6 (1) In the case of a special election within a 7 congressional, senatorial or representative district held on 8 a day other than the day of a primary, general or municipal 9 election, the registration application forms shall not be 10 processed in the wards and election districts comprising the 11 district for the 30 days prior to the special election for 12 such election. 13 (2) No applications shall be received as follows: 14 (i) On Sundays. 15 (ii) On holidays. 16 (iii) On the day of the election. 17 (iv) During the 30 days next preceding each 18 general, municipal and primary election, except as 19 provided in subsection (b). 20 Section 527. Preparation and distribution of applications. 21 (a) Form.-- 22 (1) The secretary shall prescribe the form of official 23 voter registration application. The official voter 24 registration application shall provide space for the 25 following information about the applicant: 26 (i) Full name. 27 (ii) Address of residence. If the residence is a 28 portion only of the house, the location or number of the 29 room, apartment or floor which is occupied. 30 (iii) Mailing address if different than address of 19950H1212B2281 - 40 -
1 residence. 2 (iv) Name and residence address on previous 3 registration and the year of that registration. 4 (v) Designation of political party, for the purpose 5 of voting at a primary election. 6 (vi) Date of birth. 7 (vii) Telephone number. An application shall not be 8 rejected because of noncompliance with this subparagraph. 9 (viii) Race. An application shall not be rejected 10 because of noncompliance with this subparagraph. 11 (2) Data required on the voter registration application 12 shall not be more nor less than the minimum data elements 13 permissible for Federal voter registration. 14 (3) Any person who assists in the completion of the 15 registration application shall sign the application and 16 indicate the person's address. In the case of those 17 registering under sections 523 and 525, the person providing 18 assistance shall insert the person's initials or employee or 19 agent identification number on a separate or detachable 20 portion of the application or computer data file. 21 (4) A voter registration application shall be printed on 22 stock of good quality and shall be of suitable uniform size. 23 Nothing in this act shall prohibit the design and use of an 24 electronic voter registration application which includes the 25 applicant's digitized signature. The registration application 26 shall contain the following information; however, the 27 information may be provided on a separate form for voter 28 registration made under section 523 or 525: 29 (i) Notice that an individual currently registered 30 does not need to re-register unless the individual has 19950H1212B2281 - 41 -
1 moved. 2 (ii) Instructions on how to fill out and submit the 3 application and notification of when the application must 4 be submitted to a voter registration office in order to 5 be registered for the ensuing election. 6 (iii) Notice that the registrant must be a citizen 7 of the United States for at least one month PRIOR TO THE <-- 8 NEXT ELECTION and a resident of this Commonwealth and the 9 election district for at least 30 days and must be at 10 least 18 years of age by the day of the next ensuing 11 election AND HAS NOT BEEN CONFINED IN A PENAL INSTITUTION <-- 12 FOR A CONVICTION OF A FELONY WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. 13 The notice required in this subparagraph shall be in 14 print identical to the declaration under subsection (b). 15 (iv) Notice that political party enrollment is 16 mandatory to vote in a primary election of a political 17 party. 18 (v) Notice that the commission will mail by 19 nonforwardable mail to the applicant a voter's 20 identification card upon acceptance of the application 21 and that the registrant should contact the commission if 22 the identification card is not received within 14 days 23 from the date the application is sent to the registration 24 office. 25 (vi) Notice that registration is not complete until 26 the application is processed and accepted by the 27 commission. 28 (vii) A warning to the registrant that making a 29 false registration or furnishing false information is 30 perjury. The notice required in this subparagraph shall 19950H1212B2281 - 42 -
1 be in print identical to the declaration under subsection 2 (b). 3 (viii) Instructions to Federal or State employees 4 who wish to retain voting residence in county of last 5 residence to so indicate on the application. 6 (ix) Notice that if an applicant declines to 7 register to vote, the fact that the applicant has 8 declined to register will remain confidential and will be 9 used only for voter registration purposes. The notice 10 required in this subparagraph shall be in print identical 11 to the declaration under subsection (b). 12 (x) Notice that, if an applicant does register to 13 vote, the office at which the applicant submits a voter 14 registration application will remain confidential and 15 will be used for voter registration purposes only. The 16 notices required in this subparagraph shall be in print 17 identical to the declaration in subsection (b). 18 (5) The official voter registration application may be 19 designed in a manner to be inserted in the district register 20 or for transfer to a registration card to be placed in the 21 district register. 22 (6) In jurisdictions where there is a single language 23 minority, the secretary may print a bilingual application. 24 (7) In jurisdictions where a single language minority 25 exceeds 5% of the population, the secretary shall: 26 (i) print a bilingual application; and 27 (ii) conduct a public educational program among that 28 language group alerting both organizations and 29 individuals of that group of the availability of the 30 bilingual application and encouraging unregistered voters 19950H1212B2281 - 43 -
1 to register. 2 (8) To implement section 524, the secretary shall print 3 an official voter registration mail application designed to 4 preserve the confidentiality of the information required to 5 be submitted. The application shall contain information 6 required by this section and shall include the name of each 7 county seat, its post office mailing address and zip code and 8 its telephone number. Voter registration mail applications 9 shall contain information indicating whether the application 10 is a new registration, change of party enrollment, change of 11 address or change of name. 12 (9) Nothing in this act shall prohibit a private 13 organization or individual from printing blank voter 14 registration applications or shall prohibit the use of such 15 applications by any other individual. Provided that the form, 16 content and paper quality of such voter registration 17 application complies with department regulations for the 18 forms or has received prior approval from the secretary. 19 (b) Registration declaration.-- 20 (1) The official voter registration application shall 21 contain a registration declaration. On the declaration, the 22 applicant shall state all of the following: 23 (i) The applicant has been a citizen of the United 24 States for at least one month PRIOR TO THE NEXT ELECTION. <-- 25 (ii) On the day of the next ensuing election, the 26 applicant shall be at least 18 years of age. 27 (iii) On the day of the next ensuing election, the 28 applicant shall have resided in this Commonwealth and in 29 the election district for at least 30 days. 30 (IV) THE APPLICANT HAS NOT BEEN CONFINED IN A PENAL <-- 19950H1212B2281 - 44 -
1 INSTITUTION FOR A CONVICTION OF A FELONY WITHIN THE LAST
2 FIVE YEARS.
3 (iv) (V) The applicant is legally qualified to vote. <--
4 (2) The applicant shall affirm all of the following:
5 (i) The information provided in the registration
6 declaration is true.
7 (ii) The applicant understands that:
8 (A) the registration declaration will be
9 accepted for all purposes as the equivalent of an
10 affidavit; and
11 (B) if the registration contains a material
12 false statement, the applicant shall be subject to
13 penalties for perjury.
14 (3) The registration declaration shall contain the
15 printed name and signature of the applicant and the date of
16 signing. An applicant unable to sign the voter registration
17 application shall make a mark before a person of the
18 applicant's choice other than the applicant's employer or an
19 agent of the applicant's union. Such person shall insert the
20 person's name, address and telephone number. If such person
21 is an employee or agent of the Department of Transportation
22 or another agency, as provided under section 525, and is
23 assisting the applicant in an official capacity, such
24 employee or agent shall insert the initials and
25 identification number of the employee or agent. In the case
26 of applicants registering under section 523 or 525, the
27 person providing assistance shall insert initials or employee
28 or agent identification number on a separate or detachable
29 portion of the application or computer data file.
30 (4) The official registration application shall contain
19950H1212B2281 - 45 -
1 a notice entitled "PENALTY FOR FALSIFYING DECLARATION." The 2 notice shall advise the applicant that, if a person signs an 3 official registration application knowing a statement 4 declared in the application to be false, the person commits 5 perjury. The notice shall specify the penalty for perjury. 6 (c) Distribution.-- 7 (1) The secretary shall supply official registration 8 applications to commissions. 9 (2) The secretary shall administer a program whereby <-- 10 MAKE AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION OFFICIAL VOTER REGISTRATION <-- 11 APPLICATIONS TO public libraries, public schools, State- 12 related institutions of higher education, offices operated by 13 the Department of Revenue, offices operated by the Department 14 of Aging, area agencies on aging, all offices in the <-- 15 Commonwealth that provide unemployment compensation, offices 16 operated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission or any of its 17 authorized license-issuing agents, offices operated by the 18 Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission or any of its issuing 19 agents, and offices that provide unemployment compensation. 20 do all of the following: <-- 21 (3) EACH PARTICIPATING AGENCY IDENTIFIED UNDER PARAGRAPH <-- 22 (2) SHALL: 23 (i) Ensure PROVIDE that official voter registration <-- 24 mail applications are available on the premises and 25 displayed prominently in a conspicuous location during 26 normal business hours. 27 (ii) Provide an official voter registration mail 28 application to any individual requesting one. 29 (iii) Provide reasonable space for nonpartisan signs 30 or posters indicating the availability of official voter 19950H1212B2281 - 46 -
1 registration mail applications on the premises. 2 (3) (4) The secretary may provide technical assistance <-- 3 to commissions upon request AND AGENCIES DESIGNATED UNDER <-- 4 PARAGRAPH (2). 5 (4) (5) The secretary shall print and distribute mail <-- 6 registration applications which are not postage paid and 7 which shall not be specific to any county registration 8 office. Along with the distribution of such applications, the 9 secretary shall also include instructions to inform the 10 applicant where the application is to be sent. Such an <-- 11 application shall contain a notice that an application is 12 available from the commission. 13 (5) (6) The secretary and commissions shall supply <-- 14 applications to all of the following: 15 (i) Persons and organizations who request 16 applications. 17 (ii) Federal, State and political subdivision 18 offices. 19 (iii) Political parties and political bodies. 20 (iv) Candidates. 21 (d) Staff.--Agency employees assisting in the distribution 22 of voter registration applications under subsection (c) shall 23 conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the following 24 principles: 25 (1) They shall not seek to influence an applicant's 26 political preference or party registration or display 27 political preference or party allegiance. 28 (2) They shall not make any statement to an applicant or 29 take any action the purpose of or effect of which is to 30 discourage the applicant from registering to vote. 19950H1212B2281 - 47 -
1 (3) They shall not make any statement to an applicant or 2 take any action the purpose or effect of which is to lead the 3 applicant to believe that a decision to register or not to 4 register has any bearing on the availability of services or 5 benefits. 6 Agency employees who violate this subsection shall be removed 7 from employment, provided that the agency at its discretion may 8 impose a penalty of suspension without pay for at least 30 days, 9 but not more than 120 days, if it finds that the violation does 10 not warrant termination. 11 Section 528. Approval of registration applications. 12 (a) Examination.-- 13 (1) Official registration applications submitted to a 14 registration commission shall be examined by the commissioner 15 or a clerk or registrar upon receipt. 16 (2) If the official voter registration application 17 submission is in person, the application shall be attested 18 and dated by the commissioner, clerk or registrar. 19 (3) Upon receipt of any other voter registration 20 application, the commission shall make an entry of the date 21 received on the application. If the applicant does not reside 22 within the commission's county, but resides elsewhere in this 23 Commonwealth, the commission shall forward the application 24 card to the proper commission and make a record of the 25 forwarding. 26 (b) Decision.-- 27 (1) If the commission finds the official registration 28 application not properly completed, the application shall be 29 rejected. The commission should make reasonable efforts to 30 complete the registration before rejecting it for omissions 19950H1212B2281 - 48 -
1 and inconsistencies. If the commission rejects an application 2 under this paragraph, it shall indicate "REJECTED" on the 3 application and state there the reason for rejection and 4 notify the applicant by first class nonforwardable mail, 5 return postage guaranteed. 6 (2) If the official registration application contains 7 the required information indicating that the applicant is 8 legally qualified to register as stated in the application, 9 the commission shall mail to the applicant a voter's 10 identification card in accordance with subsection (d)(1). 11 (3) For an application for a transfer of registration or 12 a change in address or name, if the application contains the 13 required information and the applicant is legally qualified 14 to transfer registration or change name or address as stated 15 in the application, the commission shall make the transfer or 16 change. If the commission suspects that the applicant is not 17 entitled to transfer registration or to change name or 18 address, the commission may investigate. If the commission 19 finds that the applicant is not entitled to the transfer or 20 change, the application shall be rejected. The applicant 21 shall be notified of the rejection and the reason for it. 22 Rejection shall be made no later than ten days before the 23 election succeeding the filing of the application. 24 (c) Result.--If an application is designed to serve as a 25 registration card, the accepted application of an elector may 26 serve as the elector's official registration card, if it was so 27 designed, and shall be filed in the office of the commission in 28 accordance with Chapter 7. If the application is not designed to 29 serve as a registration card, the information contained on the 30 application, including the elector's signature, shall be 19950H1212B2281 - 49 -
1 transferred to the registration card. If a commission utilizes a 2 signature digitization list, it shall transfer all information 3 contained on the application, including the signature, to the 4 registry or, until the registry is established, to a computer 5 file. Applicants for registration shall be challenged under 6 section 529. 7 (d) Disposition.-- 8 (1) When the registration of an elector has been finally 9 processed under subsection (b)(2), the commission shall 10 transmit to the applicant by first-class nonforwardable mail 11 a wallet-sized voter's identification card, which shall serve 12 as notice to the applicant of the disposition of the 13 application. The card shall contain all of the following: 14 (i) Name and address of the elector. 15 (ii) Name of municipality. 16 (iii) Identification of elector's ward and district. 17 (iv) Effective date of registration. 18 (v) Designation of party enrollment and date of 19 enrollment. 20 (vi) A space for the elector's signature or mark. 21 (vii) A statement that the card relates only to the 22 time of issuance of the card and is not of itself 23 evidence or proof of the qualifications of the elector to 24 vote at an election or proof of identification for 25 purposes of applying for or receiving general assistance 26 and that it is not necessary to present the card when 27 voting. The statements required by this subparagraph 28 shall be placed on the reverse side of the card from 29 where all of the other information required by this 30 paragraph is placed. 19950H1212B2281 - 50 -
1 (2) The carrier envelope in which the identification 2 card is enclosed shall contain on the outside a request to 3 the postmaster to return it within five days if it cannot be 4 delivered to the addressee at the address given. 5 (3) No registration application shall be deemed to be 6 accepted until ten days after the voter's identification card 7 has been mailed. Upon return by the post office of an 8 identification card under paragraph (2) which the post office 9 is unable to deliver at the given address, the commission 10 shall investigate. If the commission finds that the applicant 11 is not qualified to register from such address, the 12 commission shall reject the application of the applicant and 13 shall notify the applicant by first class forwardable mail of 14 this action. 15 (4) If the applicant discloses that the elector's last 16 residence address upon registration was a location within 17 another county, the commission shall direct a cancellation 18 notice to the commission of that county. This cancellation 19 notice shall be in a form approved by the secretary in 20 substantially the following form: 21 Date ......................... 22 Office of the Registration Commission 23 ................ County, Pennsylvania 24 Cancellation of Previous Registration 25 Name .................................., whose date of 26 birth is ..........................., has now registered 27 as an elector in........................ County, 28 Pennsylvania. Our records indicate that this registrant 29 was previously registered in the County of 30 ............................., Pennsylvania, at the 19950H1212B2281 - 51 -
1 following address ............................... 2 ............................ 3 Chief Clerk 4 Section 529. Challenges. 5 (a) Standing.--An individual claiming the right to be 6 registered may be challenged by a commissioner, registrar or 7 clerk or by a qualified elector of the municipality. 8 (b) Complaint.--To make a challenge, a complainant must file 9 a challenge affidavit in a form prescribed by the secretary 10 containing the following information: 11 (1) Name of challenged individual. 12 (2) Address of challenged individual. 13 (3) Name of complainant. 14 (4) Address of complainant. 15 (5) Date of affidavit. 16 (6) Reason for challenge. 17 (c) Response.--An individual who is challenged must respond 18 to the challenge affidavit as set forth in subsection (b) in a 19 written statement sworn or affirmed by the individual. The 20 challenged individual must produce such other evidence as may be 21 required to satisfy the registrar or commissioner as to the 22 individual's qualifications as an elector. 23 (d) Resolution.--If the challenged individual establishes, 24 to the satisfaction of the commission, the right to be 25 registered as required by this act, the challenged individual 26 shall be registered. 27 Section 530. Appeals. 28 (a) Right.--An individual whose application to be registered 29 has been denied may file with the registration commission a 30 petition to be registered, setting forth the grounds of the 19950H1212B2281 - 52 -
1 petition under oath or affirmation. The petition must be filed 2 by the 15th day prior to an election. 3 (b) Hearing.-- 4 (1) The commission shall fix a time for a public hearing 5 at its office not later than the tenth day prior to the 6 election. 7 (2) The commission shall give the person responsible for 8 the rejection 48 hours' notice of the hearing. 9 (3) At the hearing, a clerk, inspector of registration 10 or qualified elector of the county may offer evidence as to 11 why the petitioner should not be registered. 12 (4) The commission, if satisfied that the petitioner is 13 entitled to be registered, shall direct registration. 14 CHAPTER 7 15 RECORDS 16 Section 701. General register. 17 (a) Original registration cards.--If a commission uses the 18 original registration cards for registered electors in the 19 county as the district register, the duplicate registration 20 cards or photocopies of the original registration cards shall be 21 placed in exact alphabetical order by last name of the 22 registrant, shall be indexed and shall be kept at the office of 23 the registration commission in a manner as to be properly 24 safeguarded. These cards constitute the general register of the 25 county. They may not be removed from the office of the 26 commission except upon order of a court of record. Nothing in 27 this act shall preclude the use of duplicate registration cards 28 from applications provided under the act of March 30, 1937 29 (P.L.115, No.40), known as The First Class City Permanent 30 Registration Act, or the act of April 29, 1937 (P.L.487, 19950H1212B2281 - 53 -
1 No.115), known as The Permanent Registration Act for Cities of 2 the Second Class, Cities of the Second Class A, Cities of the 3 Third Class, Boroughs, Towns, and Townships. 4 (b) Digitized signature lists.--If a commission uses 5 digitized signature lists as the district register, the original 6 registration cards shall be placed in exact alphabetical order 7 by last name of the registrant, indexed and kept at the office 8 of the commission in a manner as to be properly safeguarded. 9 These original cards constitute the general register of the 10 county. They may not be removed from the office of the 11 commission except upon order of a court of record. The 12 commission shall safely retain all registration cards used in 13 the registration of electors or in conducting an election. If a 14 commission has the capability to accept an electronic 15 application, the secretary may require the commission to produce 16 a computer-generated card to file in the general register. If 17 the commission finds a record for a registrant on the computer 18 data base which is not contained in the general register, it 19 shall replace the original card with a computer-generated 20 duplicate card upon written permission from the registrant or 21 upon order of a court of record. 22 (c) Duplicate files.--If the commission deems a duplicate 23 file of registration cards necessary for administrative 24 purposes, the commission may prepare a reproduction in 25 compliance with the following: 26 (1) The registration form shall be photographed, 27 microphotographed or reproduced in a manner approved for 28 permanent records by the secretary. 29 (2) The device used to reproduce the card is one which 30 accurately reproduces the original in all details. 19950H1212B2281 - 54 -
1 (3) The photographs, microphotographs or other 2 reproductions are open to public inspection and provision is 3 made for preserving, examining and using them. 4 Section 702. District registers. 5 (a) Registration card file.-- 6 (1) Except as provided in subsection (b) and in section 7 701(b), the original registration cards shall be filed by 8 election districts in exact alphabetical order by last name 9 of the registrant and shall be indexed. 10 (2) The cards constitute the district register. 11 (3) The commission shall provide binders, which are 12 capable of being locked, for filing and indexing the 13 registration cards. The keys to the binders shall at all 14 times be retained by the commission. 15 (4) The district register shall be kept at the office of 16 the commission, except as provided in subsection (b), and 17 shall be open to public inspection, subject to reasonable 18 safeguards and regulations. 19 (b) Computer lists.-- <-- 20 (1) Prior to full implementation of the Statewide 21 central registry under section 301, instead of using 22 registration cards as the district register as provided in 23 subsection (a), a commission may use a computer list or 24 computer-generated cards containing the registered electors 25 arranged by election district, alphabetically by last name of 26 the registrant. 27 (2) After the full implementation of the Statewide 28 central registry under section 301, instead of using original 29 registration cards as the district register as provided in 30 subsection (a), a commission shall use a computer list or 19950H1212B2281 - 55 -
1 computer-generated cards in a format as prescribed by the 2 secretary by regulation. 3 (3) The computer list or computer-generated cards must 4 be in a form prescribed by the secretary and must contain 5 necessary information that would otherwise be available on 6 the registration cards, including a legible digitized 7 signature of the registrant copied from the signature on the 8 registration card. The district election officials shall have 9 computer printouts at the polling places containing the 10 necessary information needed to verify the identity of the 11 elector. The digitized signature list shall be open to public 12 inspection, subject to reasonable safeguards, rules and 13 regulations. 14 (4) A commission may, during systems conversion periods 15 or emergency conditions, provide for a district register 16 containing the original registration cards. The following 17 apply: 18 (i) The original registration cards shall be filed 19 by election district, in one of the following orders, as 20 determined by the commission: 21 (A) Exact alphabetical order by last name of 22 registrant. 23 (B) Order in which registrants' residences 24 appear upon the streets of the election district, in 25 exact alphabetical order by last name of registrant 26 for each residence. 27 (ii) The district register containing registration 28 cards shall be kept at the office of the commission and 29 shall be open for public inspection, subject to 30 reasonable safeguards and regulations and to the 19950H1212B2281 - 56 -
1 provisions of this act.
2 (B) COMPUTER LISTS.-- <--
3 (1) INSTEAD OF USING REGISTRATION CARDS AS THE DISTRICT
4 REGISTER AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (A), A COMMISSION MAY USE
5 A COMPUTER LIST OR COMPUTER-GENERATED CARDS CONTAINING THE
6 REGISTERED ELECTORS ARRANGED BY ELECTION DISTRICT,
7 ALPHABETICALLY BY LAST NAME OF THE REGISTRANT.
8 (2) THE COMPUTER LIST OR COMPUTER-GENERATED CARDS MUST
9 BE IN A FORM PRESCRIBED BY THE SECRETARY AND MUST CONTAIN
10 NECESSARY INFORMATION THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE AVAILABLE ON
11 THE REGISTRATION CARDS, INCLUDING A LEGIBLE DIGITIZED
12 SIGNATURE OF THE REGISTRANT COPIED FROM THE SIGNATURE ON THE
13 REGISTRATION CARD. THE DISTRICT ELECTION OFFICIALS SHALL HAVE
14 COMPUTER PRINTOUTS AT THE POLLING PLACES CONTAINING THE
15 NECESSARY INFORMATION NEEDED TO VERIFY THE IDENTITY OF THE
16 ELECTOR. THE DIGITIZED SIGNATURE LIST SHALL BE OPEN TO PUBLIC
17 INSPECTION, SUBJECT TO REASONABLE SAFEGUARDS, RULES AND
18 REGULATIONS.
19 (3) A COMMISSION MAY, DURING SYSTEMS CONVERSION PERIODS
20 OR EMERGENCY CONDITIONS, PROVIDE FOR A DISTRICT REGISTER
21 CONTAINING THE ORIGINAL REGISTRATION CARDS. THE FOLLOWING
22 APPLY:
23 (I) THE ORIGINAL REGISTRATION CARDS SHALL BE FILED
24 BY ELECTION DISTRICT, IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ORDERS, AS
25 DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION:
26 (A) EXACT ALPHABETICAL ORDER BY LAST NAME OF
27 REGISTRANT.
28 (B) ORDER IN WHICH REGISTRANTS' RESIDENCES
29 APPEAR UPON THE STREETS OF THE ELECTION DISTRICT, IN
30 EXACT ALPHABETICAL ORDER BY LAST NAME OF REGISTRANT
19950H1212B2281 - 57 -
1 FOR EACH RESIDENCE. 2 (II) THE DISTRICT REGISTER CONTAINING REGISTRATION 3 CARDS SHALL BE KEPT AT THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSION AND 4 SHALL BE OPEN FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION, SUBJECT TO 5 REASONABLE SAFEGUARDS AND REGULATIONS AND TO THE 6 PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT. 7 (c) (B) (C) Currency.--It is the duty of the commission to <-- 8 compare and correct the general register and district registers 9 to ensure their accuracy. By noon of the third day preceding an 10 election, the commission shall have the district register for 11 each election district and the registry accurately corrected to 12 date. 13 (d) (C) (D) Delivery.--The commission shall deliver, in the <-- 14 manner required by law for delivery of election materials, the 15 district register to the election officers for use on election 16 day. 17 (e) (D) (E) Form.--District registers shall be enclosed <-- 18 within a case or container and shall be locked and sealed by the 19 commission before delivery. The district register shall have 20 printed or written thereon the words "District Register of 21 Voters" and the district and ward, if any. 22 (f) (E) (F) Examination.--Immediately following each <-- 23 election, the commission shall cause each district register to 24 be examined. The commission specifically shall compare the 25 signature of each elector on each voter's certificate with his 26 signature in the district register and shall report in writing 27 to the district attorney any evidence or indication of probable 28 fraud, impersonation or forgery which may appear to the 29 commission by reason of the comparison. In the case of any 30 elector whom the election officers shall have recorded as 19950H1212B2281 - 58 -
1 removed, deceased, or challenged and prevented from voting, the 2 commission shall ascertain the facts and shall correct the 3 general and district registers in accordance with Chapter 9. 4 Section 703. Street lists. 5 (a) Preparation.--Commencing not later than the 15th day 6 prior to each election, the registration commission shall 7 prepare for each election district a list of the names and 8 addresses of all registered electors as of that date resident in 9 the district. The list may not include the digitized signature 10 of a registered voter. The list shall be arranged in one of the 11 following manners: 12 (1) By streets and house numbers. 13 (2) Alphabetically by last name of registrant. 14 (3) In a manner whereby the location of the elector's 15 residence can be identified. 16 (b) Copies.--The commission shall retain two copies of the 17 list under subsection (a) on file at its office. These copies 18 shall be available for public inspection during business hours, 19 subject to reasonable safeguards and regulations. 20 (c) Distribution.--The commission shall distribute the list 21 under subsection (a) upon request as follows: 22 (1) To officials concerned with the conduct of 23 elections. 24 (2) To political parties and political bodies. 25 (3) To candidates. 26 (d) Organizations.--The commission may, for a reasonable fee 27 approved by the secretary, distribute the list under subsection 28 (a), to organized bodies of citizens. 29 Section 704. Public information lists. 30 (a) Establishment.-- 19950H1212B2281 - 59 -
1 (1) The registration commission may and, once a registry <-- 2 is established, shall provide for computer inquiries 3 concerning individual registered voters. With respect to each 4 voter who is the subject of an inquiry, the information 5 provided shall contain the name, address, date of birth and 6 voting history. Upon request, the commission shall supply a 7 printed record for each such voter subject to the provisions 8 of this act. In addition, the commission may make available 9 for inspection a printed or computerized public information 10 list containing the name, address, date of birth and voting 11 history of each registered voter in the county. 12 (2) The list may also include information on voting 13 districts. 14 (3) The list may not contain the digitized signature of 15 the elector. 16 (b) Access.-- 17 (1) The secretary may promulgate reasonable regulations 18 governing access to the list. 19 (2) No individual inspecting the list may tamper with or 20 alter it. 21 (3) No individual who inspects the list or who acquires 22 names of registered voters from the list may use information 23 contained in the list for purposes unrelated to elections, 24 political activities or law enforcement. Before inspecting 25 the list or obtaining names of voters or other information 26 from the list, the individual must provide identification to 27 the public official having custody of the public information 28 list and must state in writing that any information obtained 29 from the list will not be used for purposes unrelated to 30 elections, political activities or law enforcement. 19950H1212B2281 - 60 -
1 (c) Copies.-- 2 (1) The commission shall provide paper copies of the 3 public information lists and may provide copies in some other 4 form to any voter registered in this Commonwealth within ten 5 days of receiving a written request accompanied by payment of 6 the cost of reproduction and postage. The cost of the copies 7 shall be determined by the office providing copies. 8 (2) An individual who inspects or acquires a copy of a 9 public information list may not use any information contained 10 in it for purposes unrelated to elections, political 11 activities or law enforcement. 12 Section 705. Retention of records. 13 (a) Computer lists.--Each commission shall preserve computer 14 lists used as district registers for five years. 15 (b) Records.-- 16 (1) The department and each commission shall preserve 17 for two years and shall make available for public inspection 18 and, where available, photocopying at a reasonable cost, all 19 records concerning the implementation of programs and 20 activities conducted for the purposes of ensuring the 21 accuracy and currency of official lists of eligible voters, 22 except to the extent that the records relate to a declination 23 to register to vote or to the identity of a voter 24 registration agency through which any particular voter is 25 registered. 26 (2) The records preserved under paragraph (1) shall 27 include lists of the names and addresses of all individuals 28 to whom notices described in section 901 are sent, and 29 information concerning whether or not the individual has 30 responded to the notice as of the date that inspection of the 19950H1212B2281 - 61 -
1 record is made. 2 Section 706. Reports. 3 (a) Commission.--By March 1, the commission shall submit to 4 the secretary an annual report setting forth the number of 5 electors registered under sections 522, 523, 524 and 525. The 6 report shall specify the number of electors whose registration 7 has been canceled under Chapter 9 and any other information 8 required by the secretary. 9 (b) Secretary.--The secretary shall submit an annual report 10 to the General Assembly by June 30 assessing the impact of this 11 act on the administration of elections during the preceding year 12 and including recommendations for improvements to procedures, 13 forms and other matters affected by this act. 14 CHAPTER 9 15 CHANGES IN RECORDS 16 Section 901. Removal notices. 17 (a) Form.-- 18 (1) The commission shall make removal notices available 19 to electors who are registered in the county. 20 (2) The notice shall be printed upon cards suitable for 21 mailing, addressed to the office of the commission. The 22 notice shall provide the following information: 23 (i) The address of present residence, including 24 municipality. 25 (ii) The address of last registration, including 26 municipality. 27 (iii) Date of removal to present residence. 28 (iv) Signature. 29 (3) The notice shall contain a statement that the 30 elector may, by filling out properly and signing a removal 19950H1212B2281 - 62 -
1 notice and returning it to the office of the commission, 2 secure the transfer of registration, effective as to 3 elections at least 30 days after the date of removal into the 4 new district. 5 (4) The notice shall contain a warning to the elector 6 that the notice will not be accepted as an application for 7 transfer of the elector's registration unless the signature 8 thereon can be identified by the commission as the elector's 9 signature as it appears on file with the commission. 10 (5) The notice shall contain a warning to the elector 11 that the notice must be received by the commission not later 12 than 30 days before the election. If mailed, the notice must 13 be postmarked not later than the deadline for registration 14 or, in the case of an illegible or missing postmark, received 15 within five days of the close of registration. 16 (b) Use.--An elector who removes residence from one place to 17 another within the same county must notify the commission by 18 filing a removal notice under subsection (a), or a signed 19 request for renewal that contains the information required in 20 subsection (a), with the commission not later than the 21 registration deadline before the election. If mailed, the notice 22 or request must be postmarked not later than the deadline for 23 registration or, in the case of an illegible or missing 24 postmark, received within five days of the close of 25 registration. The following apply: 26 (1) An official registration application of an elector 27 who has registered by mail qualifies as a removal notice. 28 (2) An elector who removes residence from one place to 29 another within the same county and who has not yet filed a 30 removal notice with the commission shall be permitted to vote 19950H1212B2281 - 63 -
1 at the election next following removal if, at the time of 2 signing voter's certificate, the elector files with the judge 3 of election a signed removal notice properly filled out. 4 Removal notices under this paragraph shall be returned to the 5 commission with the voting check list, and the commission 6 shall proceed to transfer the registration of the electors 7 under section 902. 8 Section 902. Transfer of registration. 9 (a) General rule.--Upon timely receipt of notification of 10 removal under section 901(b), the registration commission shall 11 proceed as follows: 12 (1) The signature on the notification document shall be 13 compared with the signature of the elector as it appears on 14 file with the commission. 15 (2) If the signature appears authentic, the commission 16 shall enter the change of residence on the registration card 17 of the elector in the general register and district register 18 and shall transfer the registration card of the elector from 19 the district register of the election district of previous 20 residence to the district register of the election district 21 of new residence. 22 (3) If a request for transfer which is determined to be 23 authentic under paragraph (2) shows a removal within the 24 period of 30 days preceding an election, the commission, 25 after such election, shall enter the change of residence on 26 the registration card of the elector in the general register 27 and district register and shall transfer the registration 28 card of the elector from the district register of the 29 election district of previous residence. The commission shall 30 advise the elector promptly in writing of its action. 19950H1212B2281 - 64 -
1 (b) Electors unable to write.--An elector who is unable to 2 sign the notification document may affix a mark to the 3 notification document. The mark must be affixed in the presence 4 of a witness, who must sign the notification document. 5 Section 903. Change of enrollment of political party. 6 By the deadline for registration, a registered voter who 7 desires to change the enrollment of political designation or 8 who, although registered, has not previously enrolled as a 9 member of a party may appear before a commissioner, registrar or 10 clerk or may submit an application by mail under section 524 and 11 state in a signed writing the political party in which the voter 12 desires to be enrolled. If the signature of the elector is 13 verified by comparison with the elector's signature as it 14 appears on file with the commission, the commissioner, registrar 15 or clerk shall make the change in the general register and 16 district register. If supported by other evidence of identity, a 17 mark may be made in lieu of a signature by an elector who is 18 unable to write. The mark must be made in the presence of a 19 witness, who must sign the registration application. 20 Section 904. Physical disability. 21 (a) Eligibility.--If an elector is unable to see or mark the 22 ballot or operate the voting machine or to enter the voting 23 compartment or voting machine booth without assistance, the 24 following apply: 25 (1) The elector may, at least ten days prior to the next 26 election, personally make application to the commission or a 27 registrar or a clerk. 28 (2) The application must request the entry of the exact 29 nature of the disability on the elector's registration card. 30 (3) The commission shall make the entry as appropriate. 19950H1212B2281 - 65 -
1 (4) If the disability is not entered on the registration 2 card, the elector may receive assistance if the elector 3 completes a declaration in the polling place. under section <-- 4 1218 of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as 5 the Pennsylvania Election Code. 6 (b) Termination.--If the commission ascertains that an 7 elector who has declared need for assistance is no longer in 8 need of assistance, it shall cancel on the registration card the 9 entry relating to illiteracy or physical disability which 10 authorized assistance. The commission shall notify the elector 11 by mail of its action. 12 Section 905. Department of Health. 13 The registration commission shall cancel the registration of 14 a registered elector reported dead by the Department of Health. 15 The Department of Health shall, within 60 days of receiving 16 notice of the death of an individual 18 years of age or older, 17 send the name and address of residence of that individual to the 18 commission on a form prescribed by the department. An individual 19 incorrectly reported deceased by the Department of Health may 20 appear in person before a commissioner, registrar clerk, at the 21 office of the commission, and prove identity. The commission, 22 upon such proof, shall correct its records. 23 Section 906. Residence monitoring. <-- 24 (a) Municipalities.--Subject to the provisions of this act, 25 municipal officers and agencies and public utility corporations 26 furnishing electricity, gas, water or steam to householders in a 27 municipality shall report in writing to the registration 28 commission, upon the request of the commission and upon forms 29 supplied by the commission, all cases of discontinuance of 30 service to residences. The report shall include, if known, the 19950H1212B2281 - 66 -
1 name of the person who contracted for service and the addresses 2 to which that person has removed. 3 (b) Real estate brokers and rental agents.--Subject to the 4 provisions of this act, real estate brokers and rental agents 5 shall report in writing to the commission, upon the request of 6 the commission, all cases of residence property managed by them 7 which have been vacated by the tenant. The report shall include, 8 if known, the name of the tenant and the address to which the 9 tenant has removed. 10 (c) Commission.--For each registered elector identified from 11 a report under subsection (a) or (b), the commission shall take 12 action under section 907. 13 Section 907. Removal of voters. 14 (a) Removal of elector's registration record.--Commissions 15 shall institute a program to protect the integrity of the 16 electoral process and to ensure the maintenance of accurate and 17 current voter registration records. The program shall be 18 uniform, nondiscriminatory and in compliance with the Voting 19 Rights Act of 1965 (Public Law 89 110, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1973, et 20 seq.) An elector's registration shall not be canceled except as 21 follows: 22 (1) At the request of the elector. 23 (2) Upon the death of the elector under section 905. 24 (3) Upon confirmation that the elector has moved to a 25 residence outside the county. 26 (4) Under a voter removal program as provided for under 27 subsection (b). 28 (b) Voter removal program.-- 29 (1) The commission shall establish a program to identify 30 electors whose address may have changed by establishing one 19950H1212B2281 - 67 -
1 of the following programs: 2 (i) National change of address. The secretary shall 3 establish by regulation a program whereby information 4 supplied by the United States Postal Service through its 5 licensees is used on a periodic basis, but not less than 6 once every calendar year, to identify electors who may 7 have changed addresses. The information shall be 8 incorporated in the administration of the Statewide 9 central registry and shall be forwarded to the 10 commissions in a manner determined by the secretary by 11 regulation. 12 (A) If it appears from the information provided 13 through the United States Postal Service that an 14 elector has moved to a different residence address 15 within the same county as the elector is currently 16 registered, the commission shall change the 17 registration records to show the new address and 18 shall send the elector to the address recorded on the 19 elector's registration a notice of the change of 20 address by forwardable mail and a postage prepaid 21 preaddressed return form by which the elector may 22 verify or correct the address information. 23 (B) If it appears from the information provided 24 through the United States Postal Service that an 25 elector has moved to a different residence address 26 outside the county, the commission shall use the 27 notice procedure described in clause (A). 28 (ii) Confirmation mailing: 29 (A) A commission may establish a program by 30 sending a direct, nonforwardable first class "return 19950H1212B2281 - 68 -
1 if undeliverable - address correction requested" 2 mailing to all registered electors in the county. 3 (B) If this program is established, the 4 commission shall use the notice procedure described 5 in subparagraph (i)(A) for any elector whose mailing 6 is returned undeliverable. 7 (2) In conjunction with, and not as an alternative to, a 8 program established under paragraph (1), a canvass may be 9 used as follows: 10 (i) The registration commission may, by 11 commissioners or by inspectors of registration, verify 12 the registration in an election district by visiting the 13 building from which an elector is registered and other 14 buildings as the commission deems necessary. 15 (ii) The commission shall make a record of the name 16 and address of each registered elector who is found not 17 to reside at the registered address or who, for any other 18 reason, appears to be not qualified to vote in the 19 registered election district. 20 (iii) The commission shall leave at the address of 21 each person referred to in subparagraph (ii) a notice 22 requiring him to communicate with the commission on or 23 before a date which the commission shall designate, and 24 which shall be not less than seven days and not more than 25 15 days from the date of the notice and in any case not 26 later than the 15th day preceding the election next 27 ensuing, and satisfy the commission of his qualifications 28 as an elector. The commission shall cause a confirmation 29 of each such notice to be sent by mail promptly to such 30 person at the address from which he is registered. The 19950H1212B2281 - 69 -
1 envelope containing such information is to be plainly 2 marked that it is not to be forwarded. At the expiration 3 of the time specified in the notice, the commission shall 4 cancel the registration of such person who has not 5 communicated with the commission and proved his 6 qualifications as an elector. 7 (iv) To facilitate the canvass under this section, 8 the commission may, when necessary, appoint special 9 inspectors of registration, in number not exceeding 10 double the number of election districts being canvassed. 11 (v) Special inspectors must be qualified electors of 12 the county. They shall be appointed without reference to 13 residence in election districts or to political 14 affiliations or beliefs. The commission shall instruct 15 special inspectors in their duties. Special inspectors 16 have the powers conferred by this act upon inspectors of 17 registration. 18 (3) In conjunction with, and not as an alternative to, a 19 program established under paragraph (1), the commission shall 20 send a notice pursuant to subsection (d) to any elector who 21 has not voted nor appeared to vote during the period 22 beginning five years before the date of the notice and ending 23 on the date of the notice and for whom the board of elections 24 did not during that period in any other way receive any 25 information that the voter still resides in the registered 26 election district. 27 (4) Commissions shall complete, not later than 90 days 28 before each primary, at least once per year the voter removal 29 programs under this section. This paragraph shall not be 30 construed to preclude any of the following: 19950H1212B2281 - 70 -
1 (i) Cancellation of an elector's registration as 2 provided for under subsection (a)(1) or (2). 3 (ii) Correction of registration records in 4 accordance with this act. 5 (c) Identification of inactive voters.--A commission shall 6 mark an "I" on the registration card of each elector who has 7 been mailed a form under subsection (b)(1) or (3) and has failed 8 to respond, which shall be included with all other registration 9 cards for that polling site and located at the individual's 10 polling site on the day of the election. 11 (d) Cancellation of registration.-- 12 (1) A commission shall not cancel the registration of an 13 elector on the ground that the elector has changed residence 14 unless any of the following apply: 15 (i) The elector confirms in writing that the elector 16 has changed residence to a location outside the county in 17 which the elector is registered. 18 (ii) The elector: 19 (A) has failed to respond to a notice described 20 in paragraph (2); and 21 (B) has not voted nor appeared to vote and, if 22 necessary, corrected the commission's record of the 23 elector's address, in an election during the period 24 beginning on the date of the notice and ending on the 25 day after the date of the second general election for 26 Federal office that occurs after the date of the 27 notice. 28 (2) A notice, as required in paragraph (1)(ii), is 29 acceptable if it is a postage prepaid and preaddressed return 30 card, sent by forwardable mail, on which the elector may 19950H1212B2281 - 71 -
1 state the elector's current address, if it contains a notice 2 as follows: 3 (i) The notice must state all of the following: 4 (A) If the elector did not change residence or 5 changed residence but still resides in the county, 6 the elector must return the card not later than 30 7 days prior to the next election. If the card is not 8 returned, affirmation or confirmation of the 9 elector's address may be required before the elector 10 is permitted to vote in an election during the period 11 beginning on the date of the notice and ending on the 12 day after the date of the second general election for 13 Federal office that occurs after the date of the 14 notice. If the elector does not vote in an election 15 during that period, the elector's registration shall 16 be canceled. 17 (B) If the elector has changed residence to a 18 place outside the county in which the elector is 19 registered, information shall be provided concerning 20 how the elector can register in the new county of 21 residence. 22 (ii) The notice must state the date of the notice, 23 the date of the next election and the date of the second 24 general election for Federal office occurring after the 25 date of the notice. 26 (3) The commission shall correct registration records in 27 accordance with change of residence information obtained in 28 conformance with this subsection. 29 Section 908. Procedure for voting following failure to return 30 notification card. 19950H1212B2281 - 72 -
1 (a) Same county.-- 2 (1) An elector who has moved from an address in the 3 county covered by a polling place to an address covered by 4 the same polling place shall, notwithstanding failure to 5 notify the commission prior to the date of an election, be 6 permitted to vote in that polling place upon written 7 affirmation by the elector of the change of address before an 8 election official at that polling place. 9 (2) An elector who has moved from one address in the 10 county to another address in the same county and who has 11 failed to notify the commission of the change of address 12 prior to the date of an election shall be permitted to 13 correct the voting records and vote at the elector's former 14 polling place upon written affirmation by the elector of the 15 new address before an election official at the former polling 16 place. 17 (b) Different county.--An elector who has moved from one 18 county to another county and who has failed to notify the 19 commission of the change of address prior to the date of the 20 election shall be permitted to correct the voting records and 21 vote at the elector's former polling place upon written 22 affirmation by the elector of the new address before an election 23 official at the former polling place. 24 Section 909. Incorrect records. 25 If registration records incorrectly indicate that an elector 26 has moved from an address in the area covered by a polling 27 place, the elector shall, upon written affirmation before an 28 election official at that polling place, be permitted to vote at 29 that polling place. 30 Section 910. Files. 19950H1212B2281 - 73 -
1 (a) Cancellation.--If the registration of an elector is 2 canceled, the registration commission shall mark on the 3 registration cards of the elector the word "canceled" and the 4 date and cause of cancellation. The commission shall remove the 5 card from the general register and the district register. 6 Removed cards shall be retained for five years. 7 (b) Nonessential records.--Records which are not essential 8 for maintaining the current status of a qualified elector may be 9 destroyed by the commission three years from the date the 10 commission marks them as nonessential. 11 Section 911. Errors in cancellation. 12 (a) Petition.--If the registration of an elector has been 13 canceled through error, the elector may petition the 14 registration commission for reinstatement. 15 (b) Time.--The petition must be filed by the tenth day 16 preceding an election. 17 (c) Action.-- 18 (1) The commission shall hold a hearing on the petition. 19 (2) If the commission finds that there was an error, the 20 commission shall reinstate the registration. 21 SECTION 906. CHECKUP OF REGISTERS. <-- 22 (A) GENERAL RULE.--AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE 30TH DAY 23 PRECEDING AN ELECTION, THE COMMISSION MAY MAIL TO ANY QUALIFIED 24 ELECTOR WHOSE NAME APPEARS IN ANY DISTRICT REGISTER A NOTICE 25 SETTING FORTH THE ELECTOR'S NAME AND ADDRESS AS IT APPEARS IN 26 THE REGISTER, AND REQUESTING THE ELECTOR IN CASE OF ANY ERROR TO 27 PRESENT THE NOTICE WITHIN TEN DAYS AT THE OFFICE OF THE 28 COMMISSION TO HAVE THE ERROR CORRECTED, AND WARNING THAT ANY 29 DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE QUALIFIED ELECTOR'S ACTUAL NAME AND 30 ADDRESS AND HIS NAME AND ADDRESS AS RECORDED IN THE ORIGINAL 19950H1212B2281 - 74 -
1 REGISTER WILL CONSTITUTE GROUND FOR CHALLENGING THE ELECTOR'S 2 VOTE. THE NOTICE SHALL CONTAIN ON THE OUTSIDE, "DO NOT FORWARD, 3 RETURN TO BOARD OF ELECTIONS," AND A REQUEST OF THE POSTAL 4 SERVICE TO RETURN IT WITHIN FIVE DAYS IF IT CANNOT BE DELIVERED 5 TO THE ADDRESSEE AT THE ADDRESS GIVEN. 6 (B) CHECKUP BY POSTAL SERVICE.--AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE 7 30TH DAY PRECEDING AN ELECTION, THE COMMISSION MAY CAUSE A 8 CHECKUP TO BE MADE BY THE POSTAL SERVICE OF ANY QUALIFIED 9 ELECTOR WHOSE NAME APPEARS IN ANY DISTRICT REGISTER. 10 (C) QUADRENNIAL CHECKUPS.--AT LEAST ONCE IN EACH FOUR YEARS 11 THE COMMISSION MAY CONDUCT A CHECKUP OF EACH REGISTERED ELECTOR 12 BY EITHER OF THE METHODS PROVIDED FOR IN SUBSECTIONS (A) AND 13 (B). 14 (D) FAILURE TO DELIVER NOTICE.--UPON THE RETURN BY THE 15 POSTAL SERVICE OF ANY NOTICE WHICH IT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DELIVER 16 AT THE GIVEN ADDRESS BECAUSE THE ADDRESSEE CANNOT BE FOUND 17 THERE, OR UPON REPORT BY THE POSTAL SERVICE THAT ANY REGISTERED 18 ELECTOR DOES NOT RESIDE AT THE ADDRESS GIVEN ON THE REGISTRATION 19 CARD, THE COMMISSION SHALL DO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: 20 (1) DIRECT AN AUTHORIZED EMPLOYEE TO VISIT IN PERSON THE 21 ADDRESS OF THE QUALIFIED ELECTOR AND, IF THE EMPLOYEE FINDS 22 THAT THE QUALIFIED ELECTOR DOES NOT RESIDE AT THE ADDRESS, TO 23 LEAVE AT THE ADDRESS THE NOTICE PRESCRIBED BY SUBSECTION (E). 24 (2) MAIL TO THE REGISTERED QUALIFIED ELECTOR AT THE 25 ADDRESS GIVEN ON THE REGISTRATION CARD THE NOTICE PRESCRIBED 26 BY SUBSECTION (E). THE NOTICE SHALL BE SENT AS FIRST-CLASS 27 MAIL AND SHALL CONTAIN ON THE OUTSIDE A REQUEST TO THE 28 POSTMASTER TO FORWARD IT IF THE ADDRESSEE DOES NOT RESIDE AT 29 THE ADDRESS GIVEN THEREON. 30 (E) COMMUNICATION WITH COMMISSION.--THE NOTICE STIPULATED BY 19950H1212B2281 - 75 -
1 SUBSECTION (D) SHALL REQUIRE THE REGISTERED QUALIFIED ELECTOR TO 2 COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMMISSION BY A DATE DESIGNATED BY THE 3 COMMISSION, WHICH (DATE) SHALL BE NOT LESS THAN TEN DAYS NOR 4 MORE THAN 30 DAYS FROM THE SERVICE OR MAILING OF THE NOTICE AND, 5 IN ANY CASE, NOT LATER THAN THE 15TH DAY PRECEDING THE ELECTION, 6 AND SATISFY THE COMMISSION OF QUALIFICATIONS AS A QUALIFIED 7 ELECTOR. AT THE EXPIRATION OF THE TIME SPECIFIED IN THE NOTICE, 8 THE COMMISSION SHALL CANCEL THE REGISTRATION OF A PERSON WHO HAS 9 NOT COMMUNICATED WITH THE COMMISSION AND PROVED QUALIFICATIONS 10 AS A QUALIFIED ELECTOR, EXCEPT THAT, IF A REGISTERED QUALIFIED 11 ELECTOR WHO HAS BEEN MAILED THE NOTICE PRESCRIBED BY THIS 12 SUBSECTION COMMUNICATES WITH THE COMMISSION CLAIMING THE RIGHT 13 TO REMAIN REGISTERED AT THE ADDRESS TO WHICH THE ORIGINAL NOTICE 14 WAS MAILED, THE COMMISSION SHALL INVESTIGATE AND, IF NOT 15 SATISFIED OF THE RIGHT OF THE QUALIFIED ELECTOR TO REMAIN 16 REGISTERED AT THE ADDRESS, SHALL CANCEL THE REGISTRATION OF THE 17 ELECTOR. EVERY ELECTOR WHOSE REGISTRATION IS CANCELED UNDER THIS 18 SECTION MUST REGISTER IN THE MANNER PROVIDED BY THIS ACT IN 19 ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AT ANY ELECTION. 20 (F) ELECTOR IN MILITARY SERVICE.--THE REGISTRATION OF A 21 PERSON IN MILITARY SERVICE SHALL NOT BE CANCELED BY REASON OF 22 THE FAILURE OF THE PERSON TO RESIDE AT THE ADDRESS APPEARING 23 UPON THE DISTRICT REGISTER IF THE PERSON RESIDED AT THE ADDRESS 24 ON THE DATE OF ENTERING MILITARY SERVICE. 25 SECTION 907. CANVASS OF REGISTERED ELECTORS. 26 (A) VERIFICATION.--THE COMMISSION MAY, BY INDIVIDUAL 27 COMMISSIONERS OR BY INSPECTORS OF REGISTRATION, VERIFY THE 28 REGISTRATION IN AN ELECTION DISTRICT BY VISITING EACH BUILDING 29 FROM WHICH AN ELECTOR IS REGISTERED AND OTHER BUILDINGS AS THE 30 COMMISSION DEEMS NECESSARY. THE COMMISSION SHALL MAKE A RECORD 19950H1212B2281 - 76 -
1 OF THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH PERSON REGISTERED WHO IS NOT 2 FOUND TO RESIDE AT THE ADDRESS FROM WHICH THE PERSON IS 3 REGISTERED OR WHO, FOR ANY OTHER REASON, APPEARS TO BE NOT 4 QUALIFIED TO VOTE IN THE ELECTION DISTRICT FROM WHICH THE PERSON 5 IS REGISTERED. THE COMMISSION SHALL LEAVE AT THE ADDRESS OF EACH 6 SUCH PERSON THE NOTICE PRESCRIBED BY SECTION 906(E). 7 (B) ACTION.--AT THE EXPIRATION OF THE TIME SPECIFIED IN THE 8 NOTICE UNDER SECTION 906(E), THE COMMISSION SHALL CANCEL OR 9 SUSPEND THE REGISTRATION OF EACH SUCH PERSON WHO HAS NOT 10 COMMUNICATED WITH THE COMMISSION AND PROVED QUALIFICATIONS AS AN 11 ELECTOR. 12 (C) SPECIAL INSPECTORS.--FOR THE PURPOSE OF FACILITATING A 13 CANVASS, THE COMMISSION MAY, WHEN NECESSARY, APPOINT SPECIAL 14 INSPECTORS OF REGISTRATION IN NUMBER NOT EXCEEDING DOUBLE THE 15 NUMBER OF ELECTION DISTRICTS WHICH THE COMMISSION DETERMINES TO 16 CANVASS. THEY MUST BE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE COUNTY. THEY 17 SHALL BE APPOINTED WITHOUT REFERENCE TO RESIDENCE IN ELECTION 18 DISTRICTS OR TO THEIR POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS OR BELIEFS. THE 19 COMMISSION SHALL INSTRUCT EACH SPECIAL INSPECTOR IN DISCHARGING 20 DUTIES. 21 SECTION 908. COMPARISON AND CORRECTION OF REGISTERS. 22 COMMENCING 30 DAYS PRIOR TO EACH ELECTION, THE COMMISSION 23 SHALL COMPARE AND CORRECT THE GENERAL AND DISTRICT REGISTERS. 24 SECTION 909. PETITION TO STRIKE OFF NAMES. 25 (A) INITIATION.--AT ANY TIME NOT LATER THAN THE TENTH DAY 26 PRECEDING AN ELECTION, A QUALIFIED ELECTOR, INCLUDING ANY 27 WATCHER AND ANY REGISTRAR OR INSPECTOR OF REGISTRATION, MAY 28 PETITION THE COMMISSION TO CANCEL OR SUSPEND THE REGISTRATION OF 29 A REGISTERED QUALIFIED ELECTOR. THE PETITION MUST SET FORTH, 30 UNDER OATH OR AFFIRMATION, ALL OF THE FOLLOWING: 19950H1212B2281 - 77 -
1 (1) SUFFICIENT GROUNDS FOR THE CANCELLATION OR 2 SUSPENSION. 3 (2) THAT: 4 (I) NOTICE OF THE TIME AND PLACE WHEN THE PETITION 5 WOULD BE PRESENTED HAS BEEN GIVEN PERSONALLY TO THE 6 REGISTERED QUALIFIED ELECTOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO 7 THE PRESENTATION OF THE PETITION; OR 8 (II) THE REGISTERED QUALIFIED ELECTOR COULD NOT BE 9 FOUND AT THE PLACE GIVEN IN THE DISTRICT REGISTER AS 10 RESIDENCE AND THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THAT PLACE, WHOSE 11 NAME MUST BE GIVEN IN THE PETITION, HAS DECLARED THAT THE 12 PERSON WAS WELL ACQUAINTED WITH THE NAMES OF ALL 13 INDIVIDUALS RESIDING AT THE PLACE AND THAT THE REGISTERED 14 QUALIFIED ELECTOR HAD NEVER BEEN OR WAS NO LONGER ONE OF 15 THEM OR THAT NO SUCH INDIVIDUAL IS RESIDING AT THE 16 ADDRESS. 17 (B) ACTION.--UPON RECEIPT OF A PETITION UNDER SUBSECTION 18 (A), THE COMMISSION SHALL CANCEL OR SUSPEND THE REGISTRATION OF 19 THE QUALIFIED ELECTOR AND AMEND ACCORDINGLY THE GENERAL AND 20 DISTRICT REGISTERS AND OTHER RECORDS AFFECTED UNLESS THE 21 QUALIFIED ELECTOR SO REGISTERED APPEARS AND SHOWS CAUSE WHY THIS 22 ACTION SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN. 23 SECTION 910. FAILURE TO VOTE. 24 (A) CHECK OF ELECTORS.--BY APRIL 1 OF EACH YEAR EXCEPT IN A 25 YEAR IN WHICH THE COMMISSION CONDUCTS A CHECK OF ELECTORS UNDER 26 SECTION 906(C), THE COMMISSION SHALL EXAMINE ALL OF THE DISTRICT 27 REGISTERS. 28 (B) SUSPENSION.--A QUALIFIED ELECTOR WHO HAS BEEN REGISTERED 29 FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST TWO IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING CALENDAR 30 YEARS BUT WHO IS NOT RECORDED AS HAVING VOTED AT AN ELECTION 19950H1212B2281 - 78 -
1 DURING THAT PERIOD IS SUBJECT TO SUSPENSION OF REGISTRATION IN 2 ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE: 3 (1) IF A QUALIFIED ELECTOR WHO HAS BEEN REGISTERED FOR A 4 PERIOD OF AT LEAST TWO IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING CALENDAR YEARS 5 IS NOT RECORDED AS HAVING VOTED AT AN ELECTION DURING THAT 6 PERIOD, THE COMMISSION SHALL SEND TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTOR BY 7 MAIL, AT THE ADDRESS APPEARING UPON THE REGISTRATION CARD, A 8 NOTICE SETTING FORTH THAT THE RECORDS OF THE COMMISSION 9 INDICATE THAT THE QUALIFIED ELECTOR HAS NOT VOTED DURING THE 10 TWO IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING CALENDAR YEARS AND THAT THE 11 QUALIFIED ELECTOR'S REGISTRATION WILL BE CANCELED AT THE 12 EXPIRATION OF 30 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF MAILING THE NOTICE 13 UNLESS THE QUALIFIED ELECTOR, WITHIN THAT PERIOD, FILES WITH 14 THE COMMISSION, EITHER PERSONALLY OR BY MAIL, A WRITTEN 15 REQUEST FOR REINSTATEMENT OF REGISTRATION OR A REMOVAL NOTICE 16 PROPERLY EXECUTED, SETTING FORTH THE QUALIFIED ELECTOR'S 17 PLACE OF RESIDENCE AND SIGNED BY THE QUALIFIED ELECTOR. 18 (2) WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF MAILING OF THE 19 NOTICE UNDER PARAGRAPH (1), THE QUALIFIED ELECTOR MUST FILE 20 WITH THE COMMISSION, EITHER PERSONALLY OR BY MAIL, A WRITTEN 21 REQUEST FOR REINSTATEMENT OF REGISTRATION OR A PROPERLY 22 EXECUTED REMOVAL NOTICE, WHICH SETS FORTH THE QUALIFIED 23 ELECTOR'S PLACE OF RESIDENCE AND WHICH IS SIGNED BY THE 24 QUALIFIED ELECTOR. THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION APPLICATION CARD 25 OF A QUALIFIED ELECTOR WHO HAS REGISTERED BY MAIL QUALIFIES 26 AS A REQUEST FOR REINSTATEMENT OF REGISTRATION OR A REMOVAL 27 NOTICE UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH. 28 (3) WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF MAILING OF THE 29 NOTICE UNDER PARAGRAPH (1), THE COMMISSION SHALL CANCEL THE 30 REGISTRATION OF A QUALIFIED ELECTOR WHO HAS NOT COMPLIED WITH 19950H1212B2281 - 79 -
1 PARAGRAPH (2). 2 (C) EFFECT.--CANCELLATION OF REGISTRATION UNDER THIS SECTION 3 SHALL NOT AFFECT THE RIGHT OF A QUALIFIED ELECTOR TO 4 SUBSEQUENTLY REGISTER IN THE MANNER PROVIDED BY THIS ACT. 5 SECTION 911. CANCELLATION, REMOVAL AND PRESERVATION OF 6 REGISTRATION CARDS. 7 (A) GENERAL RULE.--IF THE REGISTRATION OF A QUALIFIED 8 ELECTOR IS CANCELED FOR ANY CAUSE, THE COMMISSION SHALL MARK ON 9 THE REGISTRATION CARDS OF THE ELECTOR THE WORD "CANCELED" AND 10 THE DATE AND CAUSE OF CANCELLATION AND SHALL REMOVE THEM FROM 11 THE GENERAL AND DISTRICT REGISTERS. EACH SUCH CARD SHALL BE KEPT 12 FOR FIVE YEARS, AFTER WHICH THE COMMISSION MAY DESTROY IT. 13 (B) NONESSENTIAL RECORDS.--ALL RECORDS WHICH ARE NOT 14 ESSENTIAL FOR MAINTAINING THE CURRENT STATUS OF A QUALIFIED 15 ELECTOR MAY BE DESTROYED BY THE COMMISSION AFTER THREE YEARS. 16 SECTION 912. CORRECTION OF ERRORS IN CANCELLATION OR 17 SUSPENSION. 18 IF THE REGISTRATION OF A QUALIFIED ELECTOR HAS BEEN CANCELED 19 OR SUSPENDED THROUGH ERROR, THE QUALIFIED ELECTOR MAY PETITION 20 THE COMMISSION FOR REINSTATEMENT OF REGISTRATION NOT LATER THAN 21 THE TENTH DAY PRECEDING AN ELECTION. AFTER A HEARING ON THE 22 APPLICATION, IF ERROR ON THE PART OF THE COMMISSION IS PROVED, 23 THE COMMISSION SHALL REINSTATE THE REGISTRATION. 24 CHAPTER 11 25 COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS 26 Section 1101. Subpoenas and witness fees. 27 (a) Authorization.--The commission may issue a subpoena. 28 (b) Form and effect.--A subpoena under subsection (a) shall 29 be in substantially the same form and have the same force and 30 effect as a subpoena issued by a court of common pleas. The 19950H1212B2281 - 80 -
1 commission shall have the benefit of the process of the
2 appropriate court of common pleas if necessary to enforce a
3 subpoena.
4 (c) Benefit.--A subpoena may be issued as follows:
5 (1) Upon the motion of the commission.
6 (2) Upon motion of a party before the commission. A
7 subpoena under this paragraph is only valid for one day. It
8 must be renewed by 4 p.m. for the next day.
9 (d) Fees.--
10 (1) Witnesses subpoenaed under this section shall be
11 compensated under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5903 (relating to compensation
12 and expenses of witnesses).
13 (2) Witnesses subpoenaed under subsection (c)(1) shall
14 be paid by commission funds.
15 (3) Witnesses subpoenaed under subsection (c)(2) shall
16 be paid by the party. No subpoena shall be issued under
17 subsection (c)(2) until the party pays the commission a fee
18 of 25¢ $10 for issuing the same and deposits with the <--
19 commission one day's witness fees for each witness to be
20 summoned.
21 (4) As soon as convenient after a hearing is concluded
22 or continued, the commission shall pay witnesses under
23 paragraphs (2) and (3). Unearned fees deposited under
24 paragraph (3) shall be refunded to the depositing party.
25 (5) If the petition of the elector is sustained, the
26 commission shall pay to the elector all costs paid on the
27 elector's behalf.
28 (e) Commission funds.--The commission shall pay over to the
29 county treasurer fees received under subsection (d)(3). The
30 accounts of the commission respecting payments under subsection
19950H1212B2281 - 81 -
1 (d)(2) shall be subject to audit by the county controller. 2 CHAPTER 13 3 JUDICIAL REVIEW 4 Section 1301. Court of common pleas. 5 (a) Standing.--The following have standing to appeal an 6 action of a registration commission to the appropriate court of 7 common pleas: 8 (1) An individual whose claim for registration has been 9 denied. 10 (2) An individual whose registration has been canceled 11 by the commission. 12 (3) A qualified elector of a municipality whose rights 13 are impaired by any general order made by the commission. 14 (b) Time.--An appeal under subsection (a) must be made by 15 the seventh day preceding an election. 16 (c) Grounds.--The appeal must request relief and set forth 17 the grounds for relief. 18 (d) Hearing.--Upon timely receipt of an appeal under this 19 section, the court shall conduct a hearing. 20 (e) Order.--If the court finds that an injustice has been 21 done, it shall reverse or modify the ruling of the commission 22 and issue appropriate injunctive relief. 23 (f) Costs.-- 24 (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the court may 25 award costs for the appeal to the prevailing party. 26 (2) Costs may not be assessed against a commission or a 27 county. 28 Section 1302. Commission duties. 29 In an appeal under section 1301, the registration commission 30 shall produce any petition, register or other record in its 19950H1212B2281 - 82 -
1 custody relevant to the issue involved. 2 CHAPTER 15 3 PENALTIES 4 Section 1501. Lawful orders. 5 A person who intentionally disobeys a lawful order of a 6 registration commission or a commissioner commits a misdemeanor 7 of the third degree and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to 8 pay a fine of not more than $2,500. 9 Section 1502. Registration. 10 (a) Improper.--A registrar, commissioner or clerk who 11 knowingly registers or permits the registration of an individual 12 not lawfully entitled to be registered commits a misdemeanor of 13 the first degree and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay 14 a fine of not more than $10,000 or to imprisonment for not more 15 than five years, or both. 16 (b) Denial.--A registrar, commissioner or clerk who, without 17 reasonable cause, refuses to register an individual lawfully 18 entitled to be registered commits a misdemeanor of the first 19 degree and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of 20 not more than $10,000 or to imprisonment for not more than five 21 years, or both. 22 Section 1503. Application. 23 (a) Prohibition.--An individual may not do any of the 24 following: 25 (1) Apply for registration with knowledge or reason to 26 know that the individual is not entitled to registration. 27 (2) Apply for a change of residence with knowledge or 28 reason to know that the individual is not entitled to the 29 change. 30 (3) Declare as residence a place or address which the 19950H1212B2281 - 83 -
1 individual knows is not the individual's legal residence. 2 (4) Intentionally impersonate another in an application 3 for registration. 4 (b) Penalty.--A person who violates subsection (a) commits a 5 misdemeanor of the first degree and shall, upon conviction, be 6 sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $10,000 or to 7 imprisonment for not more than five years, or both, and to 8 forfeit the right of suffrage for ten years. 9 Section 1504. Altering registration. 10 (a) Prohibition.--No registrar, commissioner, clerk or 11 assistant or commission employee may do any of the following: 12 (1) Intentionally insert or permit to be inserted an 13 entry in a registration card without a proper application 14 under this act or without requiring the proper evidence of 15 the right of the applicant to be registered. 16 (2) Intentionally materially alter a registration card 17 after the entries have been made. This paragraph does not 18 apply to an alteration pursuant to an order of a court of 19 common pleas or of the commission. 20 (b) Penalty.--A person who violates subsection (a) commits a 21 misdemeanor of the first degree and shall, upon conviction, be 22 sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $10,000 or to 23 imprisonment for not more than five years, or both. 24 Section 1505. Votes. 25 (a) Prohibition.--An election officer may not do any of the 26 following: 27 (1) Knowingly refuse the vote of a registered and 28 qualified elector. 29 (2) Knowingly accept the vote of a person not registered 30 under this act. This paragraph does not apply to a person in 19950H1212B2281 - 84 -
1 actual military service or a person having an order of court. 2 (3) Knowingly receive a vote from a person falsely 3 claiming to be a registered voter. 4 (b) Penalty.--A person who violates subsection (a) commits a 5 misdemeanor of the first degree and shall, upon conviction, be 6 sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $10,000 or to 7 imprisonment for not more than five years, or both. 8 Section 1506. Duties under act. 9 Any commissioner, registrar, clerk, inspector of 10 registration, commission officer, commission assistant, 11 commission employee, individual, partnership or corporation that 12 intentionally delays, neglects or refuses to perform a duty 13 imposed by this act commits a misdemeanor of the second degree 14 and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not 15 more than $5,000 or to imprisonment for not more than two years, 16 or both. 17 Section 1507. Official documents. 18 (a) Prohibition.--A person may not do any of the following: 19 (1) Intentionally insert or permit to be inserted a 20 material entry in any registration card, street list, 21 affidavit, petition, subpoena, certificate, report or other 22 record, authorized or required by this act to be made or 23 prepared for a purpose set forth in this act, which entry is 24 not in accordance with this act. 25 (2) Intentionally materially alter or intentionally 26 destroy an entry which has been made in any registration 27 card, street list, affidavit, petition, subpoena, 28 certificate, report or other record, authorized or required 29 by this act to be made or prepared for a purpose set forth in 30 this act, which alteration or destruction is not in 19950H1212B2281 - 85 -
1 accordance with this act. 2 (3) Remove a record from lawful custody with the intent 3 to prevent the record from being used, inspected or copied. 4 (b) Penalty.--A person who violates subsection (a) commits a 5 misdemeanor of the first degree and shall, upon conviction, be 6 sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $6,000 or to 7 imprisonment for not more than three years, or both. 8 Section 1508. Withholding information. 9 A person who intentionally refuses to furnish to a 10 commissioner or an inspector of registration information or 11 documents which the commissioner or inspector is authorized to 12 have under this act commits a misdemeanor of the second degree 13 and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not 14 more than $5,000 or to imprisonment for not more than two years, 15 or both. 16 Section 1509. Law enforcement assistance. 17 A law enforcement officer who, upon demand of any 18 commissioner or inspector of registration, fails to render 19 demanded assistance in the maintenance of peace and in the 20 making of arrests without warrant as provided in this act or who 21 intentionally hinders or attempts to hinder any commissioner or 22 inspector of registration in the performance of a duty commits a 23 misdemeanor of the second degree and shall, upon conviction, be 24 sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $5,000 or to 25 imprisonment for not more than two years, or both. 26 Section 1510. Interference. 27 A person who intentionally interferes with any other person 28 in the performance of any act or duty authorized or imposed by 29 this act commits a misdemeanor of the second degree and shall, 30 upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than 19950H1212B2281 - 86 -
1 $5,000 or to imprisonment for not more than two years, or both. 2 Section 1511. Preventing registration. 3 (a) Prohibition.--No person may do any of the following: 4 (1) Knowingly and intentionally prevent an individual 5 from being registered. 6 (2) By coercion, threats of bodily injury or 7 intimidation, intentionally prevent or attempt to prevent an 8 individual from being registered or from changing political 9 enrollment in accordance with the provisions of this act. 10 (3) Intentionally give or promise or offer to give money 11 or goods to an individual as an inducement for the individual 12 to enroll in a particular party or to change political 13 enrollment. 14 (4) Prevent a record from being used, inspected or 15 copied. 16 (b) Penalty.--A person who violates subsection (a) commits a 17 misdemeanor of the first degree and shall, upon conviction, be 18 sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $10,000 or to 19 imprisonment for not more than five years, or both. 20 Section 1512. Approval of registration. 21 (a) Prohibition.--A person may not do any of the following: 22 (1) Intentionally alter a party designation on a 23 registration card under section 528(c). 24 (2) Intentionally fail to make a transmission under 25 section 528(d). 26 (b) Penalty.--A person who violates subsection (a) commits a 27 misdemeanor of the third degree and shall, upon conviction, be 28 sentenced to pay a fine of $2,500 or to imprisonment for not 29 more than one year, or both. 30 SECTION 1513. SOLICITATION OF REGISTRATIONS. <-- 19950H1212B2281 - 87 -
1 (A) PROHIBITION.--A PERSON MAY NOT GIVE, SOLICIT OR ACCEPT
2 PAYMENT OR FINANCIAL INCENTIVE TO OBTAIN A VOTER REGISTRATION IF
3 THE PAYMENT OR INCENTIVE IS BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF
4 REGISTRATIONS OR APPLICATIONS OBTAINED.
5 (B) PENALTY.--A PERSON WHO VIOLATES SUBSECTION (A) COMMITS A
6 MISDEMEANOR OF THE THIRD DEGREE AND SHALL, UPON CONVICTION, BE
7 SENTENCED TO PAY A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN $500 NOR MORE THAN
8 $2,500 OR TO IMPRISONMENT FOR NOT LESS THAN ONE MONTH NOR MORE
9 THAN ONE YEAR, OR BOTH.
10 Section 1513 1514. Crimes Code. <--
11 The provisions of 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 4902 (relating to perjury),
12 4903 (relating to false swearing) and 4904 (relating to unsworn
13 falsification to authorities) apply to violations of this act.
14 CHAPTER 17
15 ENFORCEMENT
16 Section 1701. Attorney General.
17 (a) Investigation.--The secretary shall investigate alleged
18 violations of sections 523 and 525 and report apparent
19 violations to the Attorney General.
20 (b) Prosecution.--Under section 205(a)(6) of the act of
21 October 15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), known as the Commonwealth
22 Attorneys Act, the Attorney General shall have prosecutorial
23 jurisdiction over violations reported under subsection (a).
24 Section 1702. District attorneys.
25 (a) Investigation.--Except as provided in section 1701, each
26 commission shall investigate alleged violations of this act
27 within its county and report apparent violations to the district
28 attorney of the county.
29 (b) Prosecution.--Subject to section 205(a)(3) through (5)
30 of the act of October 15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), known as the
19950H1212B2281 - 88 -
1 Commonwealth Attorneys Act, the district attorney shall have 2 prosecutorial jurisdiction over violations reported under 3 subsection (a). 4 CHAPTER 19 <-- 5 PROVISIONS CONTINGENT ON FEDERAL LAW 6 SECTION 1901. REMOVAL OF VOTERS. 7 (A) REMOVAL OF ELECTOR'S REGISTRATION RECORD.--COMMISSIONS 8 SHALL INSTITUTE A PROGRAM TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE 9 ELECTORAL PROCESS AND TO ENSURE THE MAINTENANCE OF ACCURATE AND 10 CURRENT VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS. THE PROGRAM SHALL BE 11 UNIFORM, NONDISCRIMINATORY AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE VOTING 12 RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 (PUBLIC LAW 89 110, 42 U.S.C. SEC. 1973, ET 13 SEQ.) AN ELECTOR'S REGISTRATION SHALL NOT BE CANCELED EXCEPT AS 14 FOLLOWS: 15 (1) AT THE REQUEST OF THE ELECTOR. 16 (2) UPON THE DEATH OF THE ELECTOR UNDER SECTION 905. 17 (3) UPON CONFIRMATION THAT THE ELECTOR HAS MOVED TO A 18 RESIDENCE OUTSIDE THE COUNTY. 19 (4) UNDER A VOTER REMOVAL PROGRAM AS PROVIDED FOR UNDER 20 SUBSECTION (B). 21 (B) VOTER REMOVAL PROGRAM.-- 22 (1) THE COMMISSION SHALL ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY 23 ELECTORS WHOSE ADDRESS MAY HAVE CHANGED BY ESTABLISHING ONE 24 OF THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: 25 (I) NATIONAL CHANGE OF ADDRESS. THE SECRETARY SHALL 26 ESTABLISH BY REGULATION A PROGRAM WHEREBY INFORMATION 27 SUPPLIED BY THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE THROUGH ITS 28 LICENSEES IS USED ON A PERIODIC BASIS, BUT NOT LESS THAN 29 ONCE EVERY CALENDAR YEAR, TO IDENTIFY ELECTORS WHO MAY 30 HAVE CHANGED ADDRESSES. THE INFORMATION SHALL BE 19950H1212B2281 - 89 -
1 INCORPORATED IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE STATEWIDE 2 CENTRAL REGISTRY AND SHALL BE FORWARDED TO THE 3 COMMISSIONS IN A MANNER DETERMINED BY THE SECRETARY BY 4 REGULATION. 5 (A) IF IT APPEARS FROM THE INFORMATION PROVIDED 6 THROUGH THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE THAT AN 7 ELECTOR HAS MOVED TO A DIFFERENT RESIDENCE ADDRESS 8 WITHIN THE SAME COUNTY AS THE ELECTOR IS CURRENTLY 9 REGISTERED, THE COMMISSION SHALL CHANGE THE 10 REGISTRATION RECORDS TO SHOW THE NEW ADDRESS AND 11 SHALL SEND THE ELECTOR TO THE ADDRESS RECORDED ON THE 12 ELECTOR'S REGISTRATION A NOTICE OF THE CHANGE OF 13 ADDRESS BY FORWARDABLE MAIL AND A POSTAGE PREPAID 14 PREADDRESSED RETURN FORM BY WHICH THE ELECTOR MAY 15 VERIFY OR CORRECT THE ADDRESS INFORMATION. 16 (B) IF IT APPEARS FROM THE INFORMATION PROVIDED 17 THROUGH THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE THAT AN 18 ELECTOR HAS MOVED TO A DIFFERENT RESIDENCE ADDRESS 19 OUTSIDE THE COUNTY, THE COMMISSION SHALL USE THE 20 NOTICE PROCEDURE DESCRIBED IN CLAUSE (A). 21 (II) CONFIRMATION MAILING: 22 (A) A COMMISSION MAY ESTABLISH A PROGRAM BY 23 SENDING A DIRECT, NONFORWARDABLE FIRST CLASS "RETURN 24 IF UNDELIVERABLE - ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED" 25 MAILING TO ALL REGISTERED ELECTORS IN THE COUNTY. 26 (B) IF THIS PROGRAM IS ESTABLISHED, THE 27 COMMISSION SHALL USE THE NOTICE PROCEDURE DESCRIBED 28 IN SUBPARAGRAPH (I)(A) FOR ANY ELECTOR WHOSE MAILING 29 IS RETURNED UNDELIVERABLE. 30 (2) IN CONJUNCTION WITH, AND NOT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO, A 19950H1212B2281 - 90 -
1 PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1), A CANVASS MAY BE 2 USED AS FOLLOWS: 3 (I) THE REGISTRATION COMMISSION MAY, BY 4 COMMISSIONERS OR BY INSPECTORS OF REGISTRATION, VERIFY 5 THE REGISTRATION IN AN ELECTION DISTRICT BY VISITING THE 6 BUILDING FROM WHICH AN ELECTOR IS REGISTERED AND OTHER 7 BUILDINGS AS THE COMMISSION DEEMS NECESSARY. 8 (II) THE COMMISSION SHALL MAKE A RECORD OF THE NAME 9 AND ADDRESS OF EACH REGISTERED ELECTOR WHO IS FOUND NOT 10 TO RESIDE AT THE REGISTERED ADDRESS OR WHO, FOR ANY OTHER 11 REASON, APPEARS TO BE NOT QUALIFIED TO VOTE IN THE 12 REGISTERED ELECTION DISTRICT. 13 (III) THE COMMISSION SHALL LEAVE AT THE ADDRESS OF 14 EACH PERSON REFERRED TO IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) A NOTICE 15 REQUIRING HIM TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMMISSION ON OR 16 BEFORE A DATE WHICH THE COMMISSION SHALL DESIGNATE, AND 17 WHICH SHALL BE NOT LESS THAN SEVEN DAYS AND NOT MORE THAN 18 15 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE NOTICE AND IN ANY CASE NOT 19 LATER THAN THE 15TH DAY PRECEDING THE ELECTION NEXT 20 ENSUING, AND SATISFY THE COMMISSION OF HIS QUALIFICATIONS 21 AS AN ELECTOR. THE COMMISSION SHALL CAUSE A CONFIRMATION 22 OF EACH SUCH NOTICE TO BE SENT BY MAIL PROMPTLY TO SUCH 23 PERSON AT THE ADDRESS FROM WHICH HE IS REGISTERED. THE 24 ENVELOPE CONTAINING SUCH INFORMATION IS TO BE PLAINLY 25 MARKED THAT IT IS NOT TO BE FORWARDED. AT THE EXPIRATION 26 OF THE TIME SPECIFIED IN THE NOTICE, THE COMMISSION SHALL 27 CANCEL THE REGISTRATION OF SUCH PERSON WHO HAS NOT 28 COMMUNICATED WITH THE COMMISSION AND PROVED HIS 29 QUALIFICATIONS AS AN ELECTOR. 30 (IV) TO FACILITATE THE CANVASS UNDER THIS SECTION, 19950H1212B2281 - 91 -
1 THE COMMISSION MAY, WHEN NECESSARY, APPOINT SPECIAL 2 INSPECTORS OF REGISTRATION, IN NUMBER NOT EXCEEDING 3 DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF ELECTION DISTRICTS BEING CANVASSED. 4 (V) SPECIAL INSPECTORS MUST BE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF 5 THE COUNTY. THEY SHALL BE APPOINTED WITHOUT REFERENCE TO 6 RESIDENCE IN ELECTION DISTRICTS OR TO POLITICAL 7 AFFILIATIONS OR BELIEFS. THE COMMISSION SHALL INSTRUCT 8 SPECIAL INSPECTORS IN THEIR DUTIES. SPECIAL INSPECTORS 9 HAVE THE POWERS CONFERRED BY THIS ACT UPON INSPECTORS OF 10 REGISTRATION. 11 (3) IN CONJUNCTION WITH, AND NOT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO, A 12 PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1), THE COMMISSION SHALL 13 SEND A NOTICE PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (D) TO ANY ELECTOR WHO 14 HAS NOT VOTED NOR APPEARED TO VOTE DURING THE PERIOD 15 BEGINNING FIVE YEARS BEFORE THE DATE OF THE NOTICE AND ENDING 16 ON THE DATE OF THE NOTICE AND FOR WHOM THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS 17 DID NOT DURING THAT PERIOD IN ANY OTHER WAY RECEIVE ANY 18 INFORMATION THAT THE VOTER STILL RESIDES IN THE REGISTERED 19 ELECTION DISTRICT. 20 (4) COMMISSIONS SHALL COMPLETE, NOT LATER THAN 90 DAYS 21 BEFORE EACH PRIMARY, AT LEAST ONCE PER YEAR THE VOTER REMOVAL 22 PROGRAMS UNDER THIS SECTION. THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL NOT BE 23 CONSTRUED TO PRECLUDE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: 24 (I) CANCELLATION OF AN ELECTOR'S REGISTRATION AS 25 PROVIDED FOR UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(1) OR (2). 26 (II) CORRECTION OF REGISTRATION RECORDS IN 27 ACCORDANCE WITH THIS ACT. 28 (C) IDENTIFICATION OF INACTIVE VOTERS.--A COMMISSION SHALL 29 MARK AN "I" ON THE REGISTRATION CARD OF EACH ELECTOR WHO HAS 30 BEEN MAILED A FORM UNDER SUBSECTION (B)(1) OR (3) AND HAS FAILED 19950H1212B2281 - 92 -
1 TO RESPOND, WHICH SHALL BE INCLUDED WITH ALL OTHER REGISTRATION 2 CARDS FOR THAT POLLING SITE AND LOCATED AT THE INDIVIDUAL'S 3 POLLING SITE ON THE DAY OF THE ELECTION. 4 (D) CANCELLATION OF REGISTRATION.-- 5 (1) A COMMISSION SHALL NOT CANCEL THE REGISTRATION OF AN 6 ELECTOR ON THE GROUND THAT THE ELECTOR HAS CHANGED RESIDENCE 7 UNLESS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING APPLY: 8 (I) THE ELECTOR CONFIRMS IN WRITING THAT THE ELECTOR 9 HAS CHANGED RESIDENCE TO A LOCATION OUTSIDE THE COUNTY IN 10 WHICH THE ELECTOR IS REGISTERED. 11 (II) THE ELECTOR: 12 (A) HAS FAILED TO RESPOND TO A NOTICE DESCRIBED 13 IN PARAGRAPH (2); AND 14 (B) HAS NOT VOTED NOR APPEARED TO VOTE AND, IF 15 NECESSARY, CORRECTED THE COMMISSION'S RECORD OF THE 16 ELECTOR'S ADDRESS, IN AN ELECTION DURING THE PERIOD 17 BEGINNING ON THE DATE OF THE NOTICE AND ENDING ON THE 18 DAY AFTER THE DATE OF THE SECOND GENERAL ELECTION FOR 19 FEDERAL OFFICE THAT OCCURS AFTER THE DATE OF THE 20 NOTICE. 21 (2) A NOTICE, AS REQUIRED IN PARAGRAPH (1)(II), IS 22 ACCEPTABLE IF IT IS A POSTAGE PREPAID AND PREADDRESSED RETURN 23 CARD, SENT BY FORWARDABLE MAIL, ON WHICH THE ELECTOR MAY 24 STATE THE ELECTOR'S CURRENT ADDRESS, IF IT CONTAINS A NOTICE 25 AS FOLLOWS: 26 (I) THE NOTICE MUST STATE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING: 27 (A) IF THE ELECTOR DID NOT CHANGE RESIDENCE OR 28 CHANGED RESIDENCE BUT STILL RESIDES IN THE COUNTY, 29 THE ELECTOR MUST RETURN THE CARD NOT LATER THAN 30 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THE NEXT ELECTION. IF THE CARD IS NOT 19950H1212B2281 - 93 -
1 RETURNED, AFFIRMATION OR CONFIRMATION OF THE 2 ELECTOR'S ADDRESS MAY BE REQUIRED BEFORE THE ELECTOR 3 IS PERMITTED TO VOTE IN AN ELECTION DURING THE PERIOD 4 BEGINNING ON THE DATE OF THE NOTICE AND ENDING ON THE 5 DAY AFTER THE DATE OF THE SECOND GENERAL ELECTION FOR 6 FEDERAL OFFICE THAT OCCURS AFTER THE DATE OF THE 7 NOTICE. IF THE ELECTOR DOES NOT VOTE IN AN ELECTION 8 DURING THAT PERIOD, THE ELECTOR'S REGISTRATION SHALL 9 BE CANCELED. 10 (B) IF THE ELECTOR HAS CHANGED RESIDENCE TO A 11 PLACE OUTSIDE THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE ELECTOR IS 12 REGISTERED, INFORMATION SHALL BE PROVIDED CONCERNING 13 HOW THE ELECTOR CAN REGISTER IN THE NEW COUNTY OF 14 RESIDENCE. 15 (II) THE NOTICE MUST STATE THE DATE OF THE NOTICE, 16 THE DATE OF THE NEXT ELECTION AND THE DATE OF THE SECOND 17 GENERAL ELECTION FOR FEDERAL OFFICE OCCURRING AFTER THE 18 DATE OF THE NOTICE. 19 (3) THE COMMISSION SHALL CORRECT REGISTRATION RECORDS IN 20 ACCORDANCE WITH CHANGE OF RESIDENCE INFORMATION OBTAINED IN 21 CONFORMANCE WITH THIS SUBSECTION. 22 SECTION 1902. PROCEDURE FOR VOTING FOLLOWING FAILURE TO RETURN 23 NOTIFICATION CARD. 24 (A) SAME COUNTY.-- 25 (1) AN ELECTOR WHO HAS MOVED FROM AN ADDRESS IN THE 26 COUNTY COVERED BY A POLLING PLACE TO AN ADDRESS COVERED BY 27 THE SAME POLLING PLACE SHALL, NOTWITHSTANDING FAILURE TO 28 NOTIFY THE COMMISSION PRIOR TO THE DATE OF AN ELECTION, BE 29 PERMITTED TO VOTE IN THAT POLLING PLACE UPON WRITTEN 30 AFFIRMATION BY THE ELECTOR OF THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS BEFORE AN 19950H1212B2281 - 94 -
1 ELECTION OFFICIAL AT THAT POLLING PLACE. 2 (2) AN ELECTOR WHO HAS MOVED FROM ONE ADDRESS IN THE 3 COUNTY TO ANOTHER ADDRESS IN THE SAME COUNTY COVERED BY A 4 DIFFERENT POLLING PLACE AND WHO HAS FAILED TO NOTIFY THE 5 COMMISSION OF THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF AN 6 ELECTION SHALL BE PERMITTED TO CORRECT THE VOTING RECORDS AND 7 VOTE AT THE ELECTOR'S FORMER POLLING PLACE UPON WRITTEN 8 AFFIRMATION BY THE ELECTOR OF THE NEW ADDRESS BEFORE AN 9 ELECTION OFFICIAL AT THE FORMER POLLING PLACE. 10 (B) DIFFERENT COUNTY.--AN ELECTOR WHO HAS MOVED FROM ONE 11 COUNTY TO ANOTHER COUNTY AND WHO HAS FAILED TO NOTIFY THE 12 COMMISSION OF THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF THE 13 ELECTION SHALL BE PERMITTED TO CORRECT THE VOTING RECORDS AND 14 VOTE AT THE ELECTOR'S FORMER POLLING PLACE UPON WRITTEN 15 AFFIRMATION BY THE ELECTOR OF THE NEW ADDRESS BEFORE AN ELECTION 16 OFFICIAL AT THE FORMER POLLING PLACE. 17 SECTION 1903. INCORRECT RECORDS. 18 IF REGISTRATION RECORDS INCORRECTLY INDICATE THAT AN ELECTOR 19 HAS MOVED FROM AN ADDRESS IN THE AREA COVERED BY A POLLING 20 PLACE, THE ELECTOR SHALL, UPON WRITTEN AFFIRMATION BEFORE AN 21 ELECTION OFFICIAL AT THAT POLLING PLACE, BE PERMITTED TO VOTE AT 22 THAT POLLING PLACE. 23 SECTION 1904. FILES. 24 (A) CANCELLATION.--IF THE REGISTRATION OF AN ELECTOR IS 25 CANCELED, THE REGISTRATION COMMISSION SHALL MARK ON THE 26 REGISTRATION CARDS OF THE ELECTOR THE WORD "CANCELED" AND THE 27 DATE AND CAUSE OF CANCELLATION. THE COMMISSION SHALL REMOVE THE 28 CARD FROM THE GENERAL REGISTER AND THE DISTRICT REGISTER. 29 REMOVED CARDS SHALL BE RETAINED FOR FIVE YEARS. 30 (B) NONESSENTIAL RECORDS.--RECORDS WHICH ARE NOT ESSENTIAL 19950H1212B2281 - 95 -
1 FOR MAINTAINING THE CURRENT STATUS OF A QUALIFIED ELECTOR MAY BE 2 DESTROYED BY THE COMMISSION THREE YEARS FROM THE DATE THE 3 COMMISSION MARKS THEM AS NONESSENTIAL. 4 SECTION 1905. ERRORS IN CANCELLATION. 5 (A) PETITION.--IF THE REGISTRATION OF AN ELECTOR HAS BEEN 6 CANCELED THROUGH ERROR, THE ELECTOR MAY PETITION THE 7 REGISTRATION COMMISSION FOR REINSTATEMENT. 8 (B) TIME.--THE PETITION MUST BE FILED BY THE TENTH DAY 9 PRECEDING AN ELECTION. 10 (C) ACTION.-- 11 (1) THE COMMISSION SHALL HOLD A HEARING ON THE PETITION. 12 (2) IF THE COMMISSION FINDS THAT THERE WAS AN ERROR, THE 13 COMMISSION SHALL REINSTATE THE REGISTRATION. 14 CHAPTER 51 15 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 16 Section 5101. Standardized forms. 17 (a) General rule.--Whenever possible, the secretary shall 18 prescribe by regulation standardized VOTER registration or <-- 19 ABSENTEE BALLOT application forms which may be used, with prior <-- 20 approval by the secretary, by political bodies, candidates and 21 organized bodies of citizens in compliance with both the 22 provisions of this act and the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, 23 No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code. 24 (b) Prior approval.--The secretary shall develop a system 25 whereby political bodies, candidates and organized bodies of 26 citizens may receive prior approval of standardized forms 27 developed pursuant to subsection (a). 28 Section 5102. Application for absentee ballots. 29 (a) General rule.--Notwithstanding the provisions of this 30 act or the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the 19950H1212B2281 - 96 -
1 Pennsylvania Election Code, the following persons may make 2 application for an absentee ballot by sending a letter or other 3 signed document to the county board of elections in the county 4 in which the person's voting address is located: 5 (1) Any qualified elector who is unable to attend his 6 polling place on the day of any primary or election because 7 of illness or physical disability. 8 (2) Any qualified elector who expects to be absent from 9 this Commonwealth or the county of residence because duties, 10 occupation or business require him to be elsewhere the day of 11 any primary or election. 12 (3) A county employee who cannot vote due to duties 13 relating to the conduct of elections. 14 (4) A person who will not attend a polling place because 15 of an observance of a religious holiday. 16 (b) Contents of letter or document.--The letter or document 17 under subsection (a) shall provide the same information as is 18 provided on forms prescribed by the secretary. 19 (c) Review and processing.--The letter or document shall be 20 subject to the same schedule as other applications for absentee 21 ballots and upon receipt by the county board of elections shall 22 be reviewed and processed in the same fashion as other 23 applications for absentee ballots. 24 (d) Application prepared by political party.--An absentee 25 ballot application form containing the same information as that 26 contained on the form prescribed by the secretary, which was 27 prepared or distributed by a political party and signed by a 28 qualified elector, shall be deemed for all purposes as valid, 29 and shall be reviewed and processed by the county board of 30 elections in the same manner as applications on forms prescribed 19950H1212B2281 - 97 -
1 by the secretary and supplied by the county board of elections. 2 Section 5103. Delivering or mailing official absentee ballots. <-- 3 (a) General rule.--Except as provided under subsection (b), 4 an absentee ballot shall only be delivered to an elector by mail 5 or obtained directly by an elector who appears at the office of 6 the county election board. An elector who obtains an absentee 7 ballot at the office of the county election board shall be 8 required to sign an acknowledgment of receipt of the ballot 9 which shall be retained by the county election board under 10 section 1302.3(a) of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), 11 known as the Pennsylvania Election Code. If any person delivers 12 or attempts to deliver his absentee ballot by any other means, 13 the ballot shall be declared void. A person who delivers or 14 attempts to deliver another person's ballot by any other means 15 commits a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced 16 to a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for one 17 year, or both, at the discretion of the court. 18 (b) Exception.--An otherwise qualified elector who is 19 physically disabled or ill and who has executed an emergency 20 absentee ballot application in accordance with section 1302.1 of 21 the Pennsylvania Election Code may designate a person who shall 22 be permitted to deliver the absentee ballot to the elector. The 23 designation shall be in the form of a statement prescribed by 24 the secretary and shall be witnessed by one adult person. 25 SECTION 5104 5103. APPLICABILITY OF PROVISIONS. <-- 26 (A) SUSPENSION.--TO THE EXTENT THAT THE SECRETARY OF THE 27 COMMONWEALTH DETERMINES THAT THE NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT 28 (PUBLIC LAW 103-31, 42 U.S.C. § 1973GG ET SEQ.) PROHIBITS THE 29 CANCELLATION OF REGISTRATION FOR ELECTIONS FOR FEDERAL OFFICE 30 BECAUSE OF A FAILURE TO VOTE AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 910, THE 19950H1212B2281 - 98 -
1 PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 906 THROUGH 912 ARE SUSPENDED. THE 2 SUSPENSION SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON PUBLICATION OF NOTICE OF 3 THE DETERMINATION IN THE PENNSYLVANIA BULLETIN. 4 (B) EFFECT ON CHAPTER 19.--SHOULD THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 5 906 THROUGH 912 BE SUSPENDED AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (A), THE 6 PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 19 SHALL BE EFFECTIVE DURING THE PERIOD OF 7 SUSPENSION. 8 Section 5104 5105 5104. Appropriations. <-- 9 (a) Department of State.--The sum of $500,000, or as much 10 thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the 11 Department of State for the fiscal year July 1, 1994, to June 12 30, 1995, for expenses incurred to implement the requirements of 13 the National Voter Registration Act (Public Law 103-31, 42 14 U.S.C. Sec. 1973gg et seq.), including a study of the <-- 15 technological needs and other aspects of the development and 16 implementation of a central registry. 17 (b) Department of Transportation.--The sum of $740,000, or 18 as much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to 19 the Department of Transportation for the fiscal year July 1, 20 1994, to June 30, 1995, for expenses incurred to integrate voter 21 registration with driver licensing to implement the requirements 22 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. 23 (C) APPROPRIATION NOT TO LAPSE.--THE FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO <-- 24 THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE IN SUBSECTION (A) ARE A CONTINUING 25 APPROPRIATION AND SHALL NOT LAPSE UNTIL JUNE 30, 1996. ANY FUNDS 26 NOT USED TO MEET EXPENSES OF IMPLEMENTING THE PROVISIONS OF THIS 27 ACT DURING FISCAL YEAR 1994-1995 MAY BE USED TO MEET THE COSTS 28 OF A STUDY OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL NEEDS AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE 29 DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A STATEWIDE CENTRAL REGISTRY 30 SYSTEM. 19950H1212B2281 - 99 -
1 Section 5105 5106 5105. Severability. <-- 2 The provisions of this act are severable. If any provision of 3 this act or its application to any person or circumstance is 4 held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions 5 or applications of this act which can be given effect without 6 the invalid provision or application. 7 Section 5106 5107 5106. Repeals. <-- 8 (a) Substantive provisions.--The following acts and parts of 9 acts are repealed: 10 Act of March 30, 1937 (P.L.115, No.40), known as The First 11 Class City Permanent Registration Act. 12 Act of April 29, 1937 (P.L.487, No.115), known as The 13 Permanent Registration Act for Cities of the Second Class, 14 Cities of the Second Class A, Cities of the Third Class, 15 Boroughs, Towns, and Townships. 16 (b) Appropriations.--The following acts and parts of acts 17 are repealed: 18 The appropriation for costs to implement National Voter 19 Registration Requirements in section 221 of the act of June 16, 20 1994 (P.L.1473, No.6A), known as the General Appropriation Act 21 of 1994. 22 The appropriation for costs to integrate voter registration 23 with driver licensing in section 222 of the General 24 Appropriation Act of 1994. 25 (c) General repeal.--All other acts and parts of acts are 26 repealed insofar as they are inconsistent with this act. 27 Section 5107 5108 5107. Applicability. <-- 28 (a) Registration application.--Voter registration 29 applications prepared PRINTED prior to the effective date of <-- 30 this act may be used to apply for registration under this act 19950H1212B2281 - 100 -
1 UNTIL JUNE 30, 1997. <-- 2 (b) Notice.--In the event that the five-year period for 3 notice to electors provided for under section 907(b)(3) <-- 4 1901(B)(3) has been declared invalid or rejected by a court of <-- 5 competent jurisdiction or by the United States Department of 6 Justice, after all appeals have been exhausted and upon 7 certification to the Secretary of the Commonwealth and 8 publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, notice shall be given 9 in accordance with section 907(b)(3) 1901(B)(3) after a period <-- 10 of ten years. In the event that a ten-year period has been 11 certified to the Secretary of the Commonwealth as invalid and 12 upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, notice shall be 13 given in accordance with section 907(b)(3) 1901(B)(3) after a <-- 14 period of 20 years. 15 (C) ELECTION CODE.--NOTHING IN THE ACT OF JUNE 3, 1937 <-- 16 (P.L.1333, NO.320), KNOWN AS THE PENNSYLVANIA ELECTION CODE, 17 SHALL BE DEEMED INCONSISTENT WITH THIS ACT. 18 Section 5108 5109 5108. Retroactivity. <-- 19 Sections 5101 and 5102(b) 5104 AND 5106(B) 5104 AND 5106(B) <-- 20 shall apply retroactively to July 1, 1994. 21 Section 5109. Effective date. <-- 22 This act shall take effect immediately. 23 SECTION 5110 5109. EFFECTIVE DATE. <-- 24 THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT AS FOLLOWS: 25 (1) THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 19 SHALL TAKE EFFECT ONLY 26 AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF THE NOTICE UNDER SECTION 5104(A) <-- 27 5103(A) AND SHALL ONLY BE EFFECTIVE DURING SUCH TIME THAT THE 28 NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT (PUBLIC LAW 103-31, 42 U.S.C. 29 § 1973GG ET SEQ.) PROHIBITS CANCELLATION OF REGISTRATION OF 30 ELECTORS FOR FEDERAL OFFENSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO VOTE. 19950H1212B2281 - 101 -
1 (2) THE REMAINDER OF THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT 2 IMMEDIATELY. C8L25JRW/19950H1212B2281 - 102 -