Test Drive Our New Site! We have some improvements in the works that we're excited for you to experience. Click here to try our new, faster, mobile friendly beta site. We will be maintaining our current version of the site thru the end of 2024, so you can switch back as our improvements continue.
Legislation Quick Search
Advanced Search
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
04/23/2024 02:50 AM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20230&cosponId=40728&eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=44444444-4444-4444-4444-444444444444
Share:
Home / House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Subscribe to PaLegis Notifications
NEW!

Subscribe to receive notifications of new Co-Sponsorship Memos circulated

By Member | By Date | Keyword Search


House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: May 9, 2023 10:56 AM
From: Representative Rick Krajewski and Rep. Christopher M. Rabb, Rep. Donna Bullock, Rep. Jason Dawkins, Rep. Aerion Abney
To: All House members
Subject: Absentee Ballots and Voter Access for Incarcerated Individuals
 
The ability to vote for publicly elected officials is not a privilege; although, historically it has been treated as such. Voting is a civil right that represents the social freedom and equality we ought to continue to strive for.
 
Sadly, some individuals incarcerated in our state have been barred from this key tenet of our democracy. Furthermore, those who are eligible to vote are prevented from doing so as many county jails in Pennsylvania do not have a written policy regarding voting in jail, resulting in de facto disenfranchisement. This pervasive issue affects approximately 25,000 individuals incarcerated in county jails.
 
For this reason, I will be introducing two bills to promote voter access for individuals who are incarcerated. Although incarceration entails the loss of many rights, voting is an integral right that should be preserved. Please join me in ensuring that more Pennsylvanians have a voice in our government by co-sponsoring these essential bills.


Document #1

Introduced as HB1757

Description: This legislation would amend Title 25 (Elections) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to permit all incarcerated individuals in correctional institutions to be eligible to vote by absentee ballot.
 

Document #2

Introduced as HB1756

Description: This legislation would amend the Pennsylvania Election Code to permit all incarcerated individuals in correctional institutions to be eligible to vote by absentee ballot. Additionally, the legislation would require the Department of State to create a uniform policy for civic education in correctional institutions and to provide correctional institutions with information pertaining to voter registration, absentee ballots and eligibility requirements, as well as all necessary forms and training.