SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 2259, 2742 PRINTER'S NO. 3262
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, IN SENATE, MAY 31, 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 RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR registration of AND VOTING FOR <--
25 certain electors confined in penal institutions and mental
26 institutions.
27 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
28 hereby enacts as follows:
29 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
4 May 31, 1955 (P.L.62, No.32), is amended by adding sections to
5 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 18.2A. 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 SHALL POSSESS ALL THE QUALIFICATIONS OF AN elector <--
17 under the provisions of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333,
18 No.320), known as the "Pennsylvania Election Code," may register
19 under section 18.2 of this act.
20 (b) For the purpose of registration and voting, the <--
21 residence of any person confined in a mental institution or a
22 penal institution who is a qualified absentee elector under the
23 "Pennsylvania Election Code," shall be determined under the
24 "Pennsylvania Election Code." EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN <--
25 SECTION 703 OF THE "PENNSYLVANIA ELECTION CODE," FOR ANY VETERAN
26 WHO RESIDES IN A COMMONWEALTH OPERATED HOME FOR INDIGENT AND
27 DISABLED SOLDIERS AND SAILORS, NO PERSON WHO IS CONFINED IN A
28 MENTAL INSTITUTION OR PENAL INSTITUTION SHALL BE DEEMED A
29 RESIDENT OF THE ELECTION DISTRICT WHERE SUCH INSTITUTION IS
30 LOCATED. FOR THE PURPOSE OF REGISTRATION AND VOTING, ANY PERSON
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1 WHO IS CONFINED IN EITHER A MENTAL INSTITUTION OR A PENAL
2 INSTITUTION SHALL BE DEEMED TO RESIDE IN SUCH PLACE WHERE SUCH
3 PERSON WAS LAST REGISTERED BEFORE ENTERING SUCH INSTITUTION, OR
4 WHERE HE WAS NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE BEFORE BEING CONFINED IN A
5 MENTAL INSTITUTION OR A PENAL INSTITUTION, SHALL BE DEEMED TO
6 RESIDE AT HIS LAST KNOWN ADDRESS BEFORE SUCH PERSON'S
7 CONFINEMENT.
8 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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