PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2259                      PRINTER'S NO. 2742

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 1851 Session of 1977


        INTRODUCED BY MESSRS. A. K. HUTCHINSON, ABRAHAM, COHEN, DUMAS,
           GREENLEAF, MRS. HONAMAN, MESSRS. KNEPPER, NOYE,
           MISS SIRIANNI, MESSRS. STAIRS AND WIGGINS, NOVEMBER 15, 1977

        AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
           MARCH 15, 1978

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending the act of April 29, 1937 (P.L.487, No.115), entitled,
     2     as amended, "An act to provide for the permanent personal
     3     registration of electors in cities of the second class,
     4     cities of the second class A, cities of the third class,
     5     boroughs, towns, and townships as a condition of their right
     6     to vote at elections and primaries, and their enrollment as
     7     members of political parties as a further condition of their
     8     right to vote at primaries; prescribing certain procedure for
     9     the conduct of elections and primaries and the challenge and
    10     proof of qualifications of electors; requiring the county
    11     commissioners of the various counties to act as a
    12     registration commission therefor; and prescribing the powers
    13     and duties of citizens, parties, political bodies,
    14     registration commissions, commissioners, registrars,
    15     inspectors of registration and other appointees of
    16     registration commissions, county election boards, election
    17     officers, municipal officers, departments and bureaus, police
    18     officers, courts, judges, prothonotaries, sheriffs, county
    19     commissioners, peace officers, county treasurers, county
    20     controllers, registrars of vital statistics, certain public
    21     utility corporations, real estate brokers, rental agents, and
    22     boards of school directors; and imposing penalties,"
    23     AUTHORIZING CHANGE OF REGISTRATION BY MAIL AND providing for   <--
    24     the registration of certain electors confined in penal
    25     institutions and mental institutions.

    26     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    27  hereby enacts as follows:
    28     Section 1.  The act of April 29, 1937 (P.L.487, No.115),


     1  known as "The Permanent Registration Act for Cities of the
     2  Second Class, Cities of the Second Class A, Cities of the Third
     3  Class, Boroughs, Towns and Townships," reenacted and amended May
     4  31, 1955 (P.L.62, No.32), is amended by adding a section          <--
     5  SECTIONS to read:                                                 <--
     6     SECTION 17.2.  CHANGE OF REGISTRATION BY MAIL.--(A)  ANY       <--
     7  REGISTERED ELECTOR MAY CHANGE HIS REGISTRATION IN THE SAME
     8  MANNER AS SECTION 17.1 PROVIDES FOR REGISTRATION BY MAIL.
     9     (B)  THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH SHALL CAUSE TO BE
    10  PREPARED AND PRINTED AT THE EXPENSE OF THE COMMONWEALTH FORMS
    11  UPON WHICH A REGISTERED ELECTOR MAY CHANGE HIS REGISTRATION BY
    12  MAIL IN A SIMILAR FASHION AS PROVIDED FOR IN SECTION 17.1.
    13     Section 18.2-A.  Registration of Persons Confined in Mental
    14  and Penal Institutions; Residence.--(a)  Any person confined in
    15  a mental institution or a penal institution who is a qualified
    16  absentee elector under the provisions of the act of June 3, 1937
    17  (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the "Pennsylvania Election Code,"
    18  may register under section 18.2 of this act.
    19     (b)  For the purpose of registration and voting, the
    20  residence of any person confined in a mental institution or a
    21  penal institution who is a qualified absentee elector under the
    22  "Pennsylvania Election Code," shall be determined under the
    23  "Pennsylvania Election Code."
    24     Section 2.  This act shall take effect immediately.




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