PRINTER'S NO. 1872
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1493
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY SIMS, GOODMAN, DERMODY, ULLMAN, DONATUCCI,
SCHLOSSBERG, STURLA, IRVIN, A. DAVIS, BERNSTINE, McNEILL,
KORTZ, RABB, MURT, CALTAGIRONE, KINSEY, SHUSTERMAN, READSHAW,
MULLINS, YOUNGBLOOD, HILL-EVANS, DAVIDSON, McCLINTON,
SOLOMON, KULIK, MATZIE, ISAACSON, DEASY, FRANKEL, DRISCOLL,
CIRESI, NEILSON, WARREN, WEBSTER, SCHWEYER, DALEY, WARNER,
HANBIDGE, KENYATTA, OTTEN, DAWKINS AND MADDEN, MAY 22, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MAY 22, 2019
AN ACT
Amending Title 25 (Elections) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in voting procedures, further providing for
application for absentee ballots.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 3302(a) of Title 25 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended and the section is amended by
adding subsections to read:
ยง 3302. Application for absentee ballots.
(a) General rule.--Notwithstanding the provisions of Part IV
(relating to voter registration) or the act of June 3, 1937
(P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, the
following persons may make application for an absentee ballot by
sending a letter or other signed document to or by appearing in
person in accordance with subsection (e) at the county board of
elections in the county in which the person's voting address is
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located:
(1) A registered elector who is unable to attend the
polling place on the day of any primary or election because
of illness or physical disability.
(2) A registered elector who expects to be absent from
this Commonwealth or the municipality of residence because
duties, occupation or business require the elector to be
elsewhere the day of any primary or election.
(3) A county employee who cannot vote due to duties
relating to the conduct of elections.
(4) A person who will not attend a polling place because
of an observance of a religious holiday.
* * *
(e) In-person appearance.--A qualified elector who appears
during normal business hours at a county board of elections in
the county in which the person's voting address is located shall
be permitted to, at that time, apply for an absentee ballot,
complete the application, submit the application, receive and
complete the ballot and cast the ballot, subject to review and
approval of the application in accordance with law.
(f) Reason for requesting absentee ballot.--A person's
reason for applying for an application for an absentee ballot
provided by subsection (a) may not be challenged.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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