PRINTER'S NO. 3915
No. 2769 Session of 1988
INTRODUCED BY VEON, LEVDANSKY, KUKOVICH, BLAUM, TRELLO, COWELL,
LINTON, JOSEPHS, FISCHER, JOHNSON, KOSINSKI, MELIO,
PRESSMANN, WOZNIAK, McCALL, BOOK, LASHINGER, ITKIN, PISTELLA,
CARN, COLAFELLA AND PRESTON, NOVEMBER 21, 1988
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, NOVEMBER 21, 1988
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of April 29, 1937 (P.L.487, No.115), entitled,
2 as reenacted and amended, "An act to provide for the
3 permanent personal registration of electors in cities of the
4 second class, cities of the second class A, cities of the
5 third class, boroughs, towns, and townships as a condition of
6 their right to vote at elections and primaries, and their
7 enrollment as members of political parties as a further
8 condition of their right to vote at primaries; prescribing
9 certain procedure for the conduct of elections and primaries
10 and the challenge and proof of qualifications of electors;
11 requiring the county commissioners of the various counties to
12 act as a registration commission therefor; and prescribing
13 the powers 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 providing for voter registration in precincts and on election
24 day.
25 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
26 hereby enacts as follows:
27 Section 1. Section 17 of the act of April 29, 1937 (P.L.487,
28 No.115), known as The Permanent Registration Act for Cities of
1 the Second Class, Cities of the Second Class A, Cities of the
2 Third Class, Boroughs, Towns, and Townships, reenacted and
3 amended May 31, 1955 (P.L.62, No.32), is amended by adding
4 subsections to read:
5 Section 17. Registration Cards; Preparation and
6 Distribution.--
7 * * *
8 (g) At any time except during the thirty days immediately
9 preceding any election, an eligible voter or any individual who
10 will be an eligible voter at the time of the next election may
11 register to vote in the precinct in which the voter maintains
12 residence by completing a registration card and submitting it in
13 person or by mail to the county voters' registration office of
14 that county, by completing the voter registration part of a
15 driver's license application, or by submitting in person or by
16 mail a registration card received in a State income tax form or
17 booklet or elsewhere to the Secretary of the Commonwealth's
18 office. A registration that is received no later than 5 P. M. on
19 the thirty-first day preceding any election shall be accepted.
20 An improperly addressed or delivered registration card shall be
21 forwarded within two working days after receipt to the county
22 voters' registration office of the county where the voter
23 maintains residence.
24 (h) Registration at the polling place on election day shall
25 be conducted by the election judges. The election judge who
26 registers an individual at the polling place on election day
27 shall not handle that voter's ballots at any time prior to the
28 opening of the ballot box after the voting ends. Registration
29 cards and forms for oaths shall be available at each polling
30 place. If an individual who registers on election day proves
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1 residence by oath of a registered voter, the form containing the
2 oath shall be attached to the individual's registration card
3 until the individual's address is verified by the county voters'
4 registration office. Registration cards completed on election
5 day shall be forwarded to the county voters' registration
6 office, which shall add the name of each voter to the
7 registration system unless the information forwarded is
8 substantially deficient. A county registrar who finds an
9 election day registration substantially deficient shall give
10 written notice to the individual whose registration is found
11 deficient. An election day registration shall not be found
12 deficient solely because the individual who provided proof of
13 residence was ineligible to do so. Except as otherwise provided
14 by this section, the county voters' registration office shall
15 provide each precinct with an accurate precinct map or precinct
16 finder to assist the election judges in determining whether an
17 address is located in that precinct. The election judge
18 responsible for election day registration shall attempt to keep
19 a record of the number of individuals who attempt to register on
20 election day but who cannot provide proof of residence as
21 required by this section. The record shall be forwarded to the
22 county voters' registration office with the election returns for
23 that precinct. No election judge in any precinct in which
24 registration is required may receive the vote at any election of
25 any individual whose name is not registered in a manner
26 specified in this section.
27 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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