PRINTER'S NO. 2088
No. 1761 Session of 1981
INTRODUCED BY CORDISCO, STEVENS, GALLAGHER, CAWLEY, COLAFELLA,
McCALL, KOLTER, WACHOB, WHITE, BLAUM, MRKONIC, LEHR, DEAL,
PUCCIARELLI, McVERRY, GREENFIELD, BROWN, PETRARCA, PRATT,
HARPER, RASCO, WOZNIAK, CAPPABIANCA, LETTERMAN, KUKOVICH,
KOWALYSHYN, REBER, FEE, FISCHER AND McINTYRE, JULY 1, 1981
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JULY 1, 1981
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled
2 "An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,
3 special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,
4 primary and election expenses and election contests; creating
5 and defining membership of county boards of elections;
6 imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
7 courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;
8 imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,
9 revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
10 repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to
11 elections," providing a simple procedure for absentee voting
12 by senior citizens sixty-two and over.
13 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
14 hereby enacts as follows:
15 Section 1. Clause (w) of section 102, act of June 3, 1937
16 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the "Pennsylvania Election Code,"
17 is amended by adding a subclause to read:
18 Section 102. Definitions.--The following words, when used in
19 this act, shall have the following meanings, unless otherwise
20 clearly apparent from the context:
21 * * *
1 (w) The words "qualified absentee elector" shall mean:
2 * * *
3 (11.1) Any qualified registered and enrolled elector who is
4 a senior citizen sixty-two (62) years of age or older; or
5 * * *
6 Provided, however, That the words "qualified absentee
7 elector" shall in nowise be construed to include persons
8 confined in a penal institution or a mental institution nor
9 shall it in anywise be construed to include a person not
10 otherwise qualified as a qualified elector in accordance with
11 the definition set forth in section 102(t) of this act.
12 Section 2. Section 1301 of the act is amended by adding a
13 subsection to read:
14 Section 1301. Qualified Absentee Electors.--The following
15 persons shall be entitled to vote by an official absentee ballot
16 in any primary or election held in this Commonwealth in the
17 manner hereinafter provided:
18 * * *
19 (k.1) Any qualified registered and enrolled elector who is a
20 senior citizen sixty-two (62) years of age or older; or
21 * * *
22 Provided, however, That the words "qualified absentee
23 elector" shall in nowise be construed to include persons
24 confined in a penal institution or a mental institution nor
25 shall it in anywise be construed to include a person not
26 otherwise qualified as a qualified elector in accordance with
27 the definition set forth in section 102 (t) of this act.
28 Section 3. Section 1302 of the act is amended by adding a
29 subsection to read:
30 Section 1302. Applications for Official Absentee Ballots. --
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1 * * *
2 (e.3) Any qualified elector who is a senior citizen sixty-
3 two (62) years of age or older may make an application for an
4 absentee ballot by mail by sending a letter to the county board
5 of elections in the county in which his voting residence is
6 located. Such person must submit a written statement asserting
7 he is a senior citizen sixty-two (62) years of age or older with
8 each application.
9 * * *
10 Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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