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Secretaryof theCommonwealthor thespecialcourtof commonpleasestablishedby section1731of BedriddenOr HospitalizedVeterans(Repealed) (Repealed) (Repealed) it enacted,&c.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.(e)Thewords"districtregister"sha llmeanthecardscontainingallor anypartof theregistrylistof qualifiedelectorsof thesameelectiondistrict,as preparedby theregistrationcommissions.

3 (f)Theword"election"shallmeananygeneral, municipal,specialor 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.(i)Thewords"independe ntnomination"shallmeantheselectionby an independentpoliticalbody,in accordancewiththeprovisionsof thisact,of a candidatefora publicofficeauthorizedto be votedforat an election.(j)Thewords"municipalelection"s hallmeantheelectionwhichtheConstitutiono f thisCommonwealthrequiresto be heldin odd-numberedyears.

4 (k)Theword"nomination"shallmeantheselect ion,inaccordancewiththeprovisionsof 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.(p)Thewords"politicalbody"shall meanan 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.

5 ( )"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.(u )The words"registeredand enrolledmemberof a politicalparty"shallmeananyqualifiedelec torwhoshallbe registeredaccordingto politicaldesignation,in accordancewiththeprovisionsof theregistrationacts.(v)Thewords"speciale lection"shallmeananyelectionotherthana regulargeneral,municipalor primaryelection.

6 (w)Thewords"qualifiedabsenteeelector"sha llmean:(1)Anyqualifiedelectorwhois 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;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.

7 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.

8 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;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.

9 Provided,however,Thatthesaidelectorhasbe enregisteredor 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;or(11)Anyqualified,registeredan denrolledelectorwhoisunableto attendhispollingplacebecauseof illnessorphysicaldisability;or(12)Anyqua lified,registeredandenrolledelectorwhois a spouseor dependentaccompanyinga personemployedin theserviceof thisCommonwealthor in theserviceof theFederalGovernmentwithintheterritorial limitsof theseveralStatesof theUnitedStatesandtheDistrictof Columbiain theeventtheduties,professionor occupationof suchpersonrequirehimto be absentfromthemunicipalityof hisresidence;or(13)Anyqualifiedelectorwh ois a countyemployewhocannotvotedueto dutieson electiondayrelatingto theconductof theelection;or(14)Anyqualifiedelectorwho willnotattenda pollingplacebecauseof theobservanceof a religiousholiday:Provided,however,Thatth ewords"qualifiedabsenteeelector"shallin nowisebe construedto includepersonsconfinedin a penalinstitutionor a mentalinstitutionnorshallit in anywisebe construedto includea personnototherwisequalifiedas a qualifiedelectorin accordancewiththedefinitionsetforthin section102(t)of thisact.

10 ((w) ,1998, , )(x)Thewords"membersof theMerchantMarineof theUnitedStates"meanpersons(otherthanper sonsin militaryservice)employedas officersor membersof crewsof vesselsdocumentedunderthelawsof theUnitedStatesor of vesselsownedby theUnitedStatesor of vesselsof foreignflagregistryundercharterto or controlof theUnitedStates,andpersons(otherthanpers onsin militaryservice)enrolledwiththeUnitedSta tesforemploymentor fortrainingforemploymentormaintainedby theUnitedStatesforemergencyreliefservice as officersor membersof crewsof anysuchvessels,butdoesnotincludepersonss o employedor enrolledforsuchemploymentor fortrainingforemploymentor maintainedforsuchemergencyreliefon theGreatLakesor theInlandwaterways.((x) ,1963, , )(y)Theword"dependent"meansanypersonwhoi s in factadependent.((y) ,1963, , )(z)Thewords"personauthorizedto administeroaths"shallmeananypersonwhois a commissionedofficerin militaryserviceor anymemberof theMerchantMarineof theUnitedStatesdesignatedforthispurposeb y theUnitedStatesSecretaryof Commerceor anycivilianofficialempoweredby anyStateor Federallawto administeroaths.