PRINTER'S NO. 1637
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1499
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY MOUL, SILVIS, PICKETT, MILLARD, RYAN, HAMM,
METCALFE, ROTHMAN, KAUFFMAN, JAMES, RADER, COOK, PENNYCUICK,
STAMBAUGH, ECKER, WARNER, MENTZER, ZIMMERMAN AND BERNSTINE,
JUNE 1, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JUNE 1, 2021
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled
"An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,
special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,
primary and election expenses and election contests; creating
and defining membership of county boards of elections;
imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;
imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,
revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to
elections," in voting by qualified absentee electors, further
providing for canvassing of official absentee ballots and
mail-in ballots.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1308(g)(3) of the act of June 3, 1937
(P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code,
amended March 27, 2020 (P.L.41, No.12), is amended to read:
Section 1308. Canvassing of Official Absentee Ballots and
Mail-in Ballots.--* * *
(g) * * *
(3) When the county board meets to pre-canvass or canvass
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absentee ballots and mail-in ballots under paragraphs (1), (1.1)
and (2), the board shall examine the declaration on the envelope
of each ballot not set aside under subsection (d) and shall
compare the information thereon with that contained in the
"Registered Absentee and Mail-in Voters File," the absentee
voters' list and/or the "Military Veterans and Emergency
Civilians Absentee Voters File," whichever is applicable. The
examination shall include a comparison of the elector's
signature of record against the signature on the declaration of
the elector. If the board finds that the two signatures do not
match, the ballot shall be set aside and declared void. If the
county board has verified the proof of identification as
required under this act and is satisfied that the declaration is
sufficient and the information contained in the "Registered
Absentee and Mail-in Voters File," the absentee voters' list
and/or the "Military Veterans and Emergency Civilians Absentee
Voters File" verifies his right to vote, the county board shall
provide a list of the names of electors whose absentee ballots
or mail-in ballots are to be pre-canvassed or canvassed.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20210HB1499PN1637 - 2 -
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