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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 25, 2013 11:24 AM |
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| From: | Representative Stan Saylor |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Political Material Inside Election Polling Centers |
| The last few presidential elections were monumental and historical for numerous reasons. One reason we should not be so proud about is the blatant tide of voter intimidation that has taken shape here in Pennsylvania. Again this last election, polling centers in Pennsylvania made national headlines involving controversial voter intimidation methods. One of several controversies surfacing in Pennsylvania included the displaying of a 15-foot mural of a presidential candidate that included the candidate’s face, campaign slogan, and logos inside a polling place. Despite the initial reasons for the mural, its visible location in a polling place sends a definite bias to voters, and the appearance of not holding fair elections that are free of voter intimidation. For this reason, I will be introducing legislation to protect citizens from the pressures of parties or campaigns when standing in line and casting their vote inside the polling centers. My legislation will amend Article V of the Pennsylvania Election Code to clearly indicate that polling places selected by the County Board must be free of all political material during any election. Under the bill, political material includes pamphlets, posters, signs, advertisements, photographs, painted or written material, or statements that identify or indicate a candidate. The term does not include materials presented by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Election material and electioneering inside the polling place are prohibited by state law. As was the incident of the mural, eventually an injunction was issued requiring poll workers to cover up the mural. Instead of covering the entire mural, poll workers covered only the candidate’s face with pieces of paper, leaving the candidate’s likeness, quotation, and campaign slogans clearly visible. My bill will make it clear that when polling places are used they are to be free from any type of persuasion or intimidation. I hope you will consider joining me in support of this important legislation. |
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| View Attachment | ||
Introduced as HB1142