House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

Posted:	January 17, 2013 03:34 PM
From:	Representative Joseph T. Hackett
To:	All House members
Subject:	Police Officers at Polling Places (Former HB 1978)

In the near future, I intend to re-introduce legislation that will amend Section 1207 of the Election Code to permit police officers to be within 100 feet of a polling place, so long as they are off duty and wearing civilian clothes. As currently written, Section 1207 of the Election Code prohibits police officers from being within 100 feet of a polling place, regardless of whether they are in uniform or not, unless they are exercising their right to vote. I feel that prohibiting off-duty officers from being outside a polling place violates their right to free speech. This legislation will restore that right and allow police officers, like other citizens, the right to work at polls and support any candidates running, so long as they are wearing civilian clothes and off duty. Previous Cosponsors: AUMENT, BLOOM, COHEN, D. COSTA, CRUZ, DiGIROLAMO, FARRY, FLECK, GROVE, HAHN, HARHART, HEFFLEY, KILLION, METCALFE, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MILLER, MILNE, TAYLOR, TOOHIL, TRUITT AND WATSON
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Introduced as HB1040