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House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	January 24, 2017 11:11 AM
From:	Representative Anthony M. DeLuca
To:	All House members
Subject:	Early Voting (HB 291 of 2015)

In the near future, I will be re-introducing legislation (HB 291 of 2015) providing for early voting in Pennsylvania. Over the last several years, early voting has become more common nation-wide. In 2012, approximately one in eight voters in states with same day registration, according to Pew Charitable Trusts. According to the United States Election Project, more than 30 percent of the votes in the last two Presidential Elections have been cast by early voting. Currently, 37 states and the District of Columbia allow early voting. It is time for Pennsylvania to follow the majority of states and increase voting access for our constituents by allowing early voting. The legislation establishes an early voting process modeled after Florida’s early voting system. This new voting system permits early votes to be cast starting fifteen days before the election and ending the day before the election. Early voting would be permitted at early voting sites to be established by county boards of election. All county early voting sites would be required to have uniform hours and days of operation, and must be open at least eight hours on each weekday and a total of eight hours on weekends. County boards of election will be required to keep track of early voters to ensure they do not vote again at another early voting site or on Election Day. Please join me in expanding voting access to all Pennsylvania citizens by co-sponsoring this important legislation.

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