PENNSYLVANIAELECTIONCODE ANACT

1 " PENNSYLVANIAELECTIONCODE " of , 1937, ,No. 320AN ACTC oncerningelections,includinggeneral,muni cipal,specialandprimaryelections,thenomi nationof candidates,primaryandelectionexpensesand electioncontests;creatinganddefiningmemb ershipof countyboardsof elections;imposingdutiesuponthe Secretaryof the Commonwealth,courts,countyboardsof elections,countycommissioners;imposingpe naltiesforviolationof theact,andcodifying,revisingandconsolida tingthelawsrelatingthereto;andrepealingc ertainactsandpartsof actsrelatingto 'sNote:Section508of Act223of 1970providedthatAct320is repealedinsofaras it is 'sNote:Section14 of Act185of 1969providedthatAct320is repealedinsofaras it relatesto theCourtof CommonPleasof DauphinCounty,thecourtofcommonpleasof thepropercountyin connectionwithmattersrelatingto the powersor dutiesof the Secretaryof theCommonwealthor thespecialcourtof commonpleasestablishedby section1731of BedriddenOr HospitalizedVeterans(Repealed) (Repealed) (Repealed) it enacted,&c.

2 ,Thatthelawsrelatingtogeneral,municipal, specialandprimaryelections,thenomination of candidates,primaryandelectionexpensesand electioncontestsare herebycodified,revisedand consolidatedas known,andmaybe cited,as the" PENNSYLVANIAELECTIONCODE ." ,whenusedin thisact,shallhavethe followingmeanings,unlessotherwiseclearly apparentfromthecontext:(a)The word"candidate"shall,unlessthe contextotherwiserequires,includebothcand idatesfornominationandelection.( )"Canvass"includesgatheringtheballotsaft ertheelectionandcounting,computingandtal lyingthevotes.(( ) ,1968, , )(b)Theword"county"shallmeananycountyof thisCommonwealth.(c)Thewords"countyboard "or "board"shallmeanthecountyboardof electionsof anycountyhereinprovidedfor.(d)Thewords"d istrictelectionboard"or "electionboard"shallmeantheelectionoffic ersrequiredto conductprimariesandelectionsin anyelectiondistrictin accordancewiththeprovisionsof thisact.

3 (e)Thewords"districtregister"shallmeanth ecardscontainingallor anypartof theregistrylistof qualifiedelectorsof thesameelectiondistrict,as preparedby theregistrationcommissions.(f)Theword"el ection"shallmeananygeneral,municipal,spe cialor primaryelection,unlessotherwisespecified .(g)Thewords"electiondistrict"shallmeana district,divisionor precinct,establishedin accordancewiththeprovisionsof thisact,withinwhichallqualifiedelectorsv oteat onepollingplace.( )Thewords"electionofficer"shallincludeth ejudgeof electionsandthemajorityandminorityinspec torselectedor appointedby a countyboardof electionsandtheclerkormachineinspectorap pointedby a countyboardof elections.(( ) , 2002, , )(h)Thewords"generalelection"shallmeanth eelectionwhichtheConstitutionof thisCommonwealthrequiresto be heldin even-numberedyears.

4 (i)Thewords"independentnomination"shallm eantheselectionby an independentpoliticalbody,in accordancewiththeprovisionsof thisact,of a candidatefora publicofficeauthorizedto be votedforat an election.(j)Thewords"municipalelection"s hallmeantheelectionwhichtheConstitutiono f thisCommonwealthrequiresto be heldin odd-numberedyears.(k)Theword"nomination" shallmeantheselection,inaccordancewithth eprovisionsof thisact,of a candidatefora publicofficeauthorizedto be votedforat an election.(l)Thewords"Novemberelection"sh allmeaneitherthegeneralor municipalelection,or both,accordingto thecontext.(m)Theword"oath"shallincludea ffirmationandtheword"swear"shallincludea ffirm.(n)Theword"party"shallmeana politicalparty,asdefinedin section801of thisact.(o)Thewords"partynomination"shal lmeantheselectionby a politicalparty,in accordancewiththeprovisionsof thisact,of a candidatefora publicofficeauthorizedto be votedforat an election.

5 (p)Thewords"politicalbody"shallmeanan independentbodyof electors,as definedin section801of thisact.(q)Thewords"pollingplace"shallme antheroomprovidedin eachelectiondistrictforvotingat a primaryor election.(r)Thewords"primary"or "primaryelection"shallmeananyelectionhel dforthepurposeof electingpartyofficersandnominatingcandid atesforpublicofficesto be votedforat an election.( )"Publicinstitution"meansinstitutionspri marilymaintainedby theFederal,Stateor localgovernmentsandincludesbutis notlimitedto veterans'hospitalsandhomes,Statehospital s,poorhousesandcountyhomes.(( ) ,1968, , )(s)Thewords"publicoffice"shallincludeev erypublicofficeto whichpersonscan be electedby a voteof the electorsunderthelawsof thisState.(t)Thewords"qualifiedelector"s hallmeananypersonwhoshallpossessallof thequalificationsforvotingnoworhereafter prescribedby theConstitutionof thisCommonwealth,or who,beingotherwisequalifiedby continuedresidencein hiselectiondistrict,shallobtainsuchquali ficationsbeforethenextensuingelection.

6 (u)The words"registeredand enrolledmemberof a politicalparty"shallmeananyqualifiedelec torwhoshallbe registeredaccordingto politicaldesignation,in accordancewiththeprovisionsof theregistrationacts.(v)Thewords"speciale lection"shallmeananyelectionotherthana regulargeneral,municipalor primaryelection.(w)Thewords"qualifiedabs enteeelector"shallmean:(1)Anyqualifiedel ectorwhois or whomaybe in themilitaryserviceof theUnitedStatesregardlessof whetheratthetimeof votinghe is presentin theelectiondistrictofhisresidenceor is withinor withoutthisCommonwealthandregardlessof whetherhe is registeredor enrolled;or(2)Anyqualifiedelectorwhois a spouseor dependentresidingwithor accompanyinga personin themilitaryserviceof theUnitedStatesif at thetimeof votingsuchspouseordependentis absentfromthemunicipalityof hisresidence:Provided,however,Thatthesai delectorhasbeenregisteredor enrolledaccordingto lawor is entitled,underprovisionsof thePermanentRegistrationLawas nowor hereinafterenactedby theGeneralAssembly,to absenteeregistrationpriorto orconcurrentlywiththetimeof voting.

7 Or(3)Anyqualifiedelectorwhois or whomaybe in theserviceof theMerchantMarineof theUnitedStatesif at thetimeof votinghe is absentfromthemunicipalityof hisresidence:Provided,however,Thatthesai delectorhasbeenregisteredor enrolledaccordingto lawor is entitled,underprovisionsof thePermanentRegistrationLawas noworhereinafterenactedby theGeneralAssembly,to absenteeregistrationpriorto or concurrentlywiththetimeof voting;or(4)Anyqualifiedelectorwhois a spouseor dependentresidingwithor accompanyinga personwhois in theserviceof theMerchantMarineof theUnitedStatesif at thetimeofvotingsuchspouseor dependentis absentfromthemunicipalityof hisresidence:Provided,however,Thatthesai delectorhasbeenregisteredor enrolledaccordingto lawor is entitled,underprovisionsof thePermanentRegistrationLawas noworhereinafterenactedby theGeneralAssembly,to absenteeregistrationpriorto or concurrentlywiththetimeof voting.

8 Or(5)Anyqualifiedelectorwhois or whomaybe in areligiousor welfaregroupofficiallyattachedto andservingwiththearmedforcesif at thetimeof votinghe is absentfromthemunicipalityof hisresidence:Provided,however,Thatthesai delectorhasbeenregisteredor enrolledaccordingtolawor is entitled,underprovisionsof thePermanentRegistrationLawas nowor hereinafterenactedby theGeneralAssembly,to absenteeregistrationpriorto or concurrentlywiththetimeof voting;or(6)Anyqualifiedelectorwhois a spouseor dependentresidingwithor accompanyinga personin a religiousor welfaregroupofficiallyattachedto andservingwiththearmedforcesif at thetimeof votingsuchspouseor dependentis absentfromthemunicipalityof hisresidence:Provided,however,Thatthesai delectorhasbeenregisteredor enrolledaccordingtolawor is entitled,underprovisionsof thePermanentRegistrationLawas nowor hereinafterenactedby theGeneralAssembly,to absenteeregistrationpriorto or concurrentlywiththetimeof voting.

9 Or(7)Anyqualifiedelectorwhoexpectsto be or is outsidetheterritoriallimitsof theseveralStatesof theUnitedStatesandtheDistrictof Columbiabecausehisduties,occupationor businessrequirehimto be elsewhereduringtheentireperiodthepollsar eopenforvotingon thedayof anyprimaryor electionor whois or whomaybe a civilianemployeeof theUnitedStatesoutsidetheterritoriallimi tsof theseveralStatesof theUnitedStatesandtheDistrictofColumbia, whetheror notsuchelectoris subjecttocivil-servicelawsandtheClassifi cationActof 1949andwhetheror notpaidfromfundsappropriatedby theCongress,if at thetimeof votinghe is absentfromthemunicipalityofhisresidence: Provided,however,Thatsaidelectorhasbeenr egisteredor enrolledaccordingto lawor is entitled,underprovisionsof thePermanentRegistrationLawas noworhereinafterenactedby theGeneralAssembly,to absenteeregistrationpriorto or concurrentlywiththetimeof voting.

10 Or(8)Anyqualifiedelectorwhois a spouseor dependentresidingwithor accompanyinga personwhoexpectsto be or isoutsidetheterritoriallimitsof theseveralStatesof theUnitedStatesandtheDistrictof Columbiabecausehisduties,occupationor businessrequirehimto be elsewhereduringtheentireperiodthepollsar eopenforvotingon thedayof anyprimaryor electionor whois a spouseor dependentresidingwithor accompanyinga personwhois a civilianemployeeof theUnitedStatesoutsidetheterritoriallimi tsof theseveralStatesof the UnitedStatesand the Districtof Columbiawhetheror notsuchpersonis subjectto civil-servicelawsandtheClassificationAct of 1949andwhetheror notpaidfromfundsappropriatedby theCongressif at thetimeof votingsuchspouseor dependentis absentfromthemunicipalityof hisresidence:Provided,however,Thatthesai delectorhasbeenregisteredor enrolledaccordingto lawor is entitled,underprovisionsof thePermanentRegistrationLawas noworhereinafterenactedby theGeneralAssembly,to absenteeregistrationpriorto or concurrentlywiththetimeof voting;or(9)Anyqualifiedwarveteranelecto rwhois bedriddenorhospitalizeddueto illnessor physicaldisabilityif he isabsentfromthemunicipalityof hisresidenceandunabletoattendhispollingp lacebecauseof suchillnessor physicaldisabilityregardlessof whetherhe is registeredandenrolled;or(10)Anyqualified ,registeredandenrolledelectorwhoexpectst o be or is absentfromthemunicipalityof hisresidencebecausehisduties,occupationo r businessrequirehimto be elsewhereduringtheentireperiodthepollsar eopenforvotingon thedayof anyprimaryor election.