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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 19, 2020 09:52 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Daylin Leach |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Mailing a Ballot Application to Every Voter for 2020 Elections |
| Soon I will introduce legislation to require and fund the mailing of an absentee ballot application to every eligible voter in Pennsylvania for the 2020 primary and general elections. On any given election day in Pennsylvania, millions of us pass through our polling places, catch-up with neighbors and poll workers, and share voting booths, machines, and even pens. As everyone knows by now, public health officials have recommended that Pennsylvanians practice social distancing as much as possible in order to minimize and slow the transmission of the virus known as SARS-CoV-2 and the disease it causes, COVID-19. As such, we should make it as easy as possible for Pennsylvanians to vote by mail during the upcoming primary and general elections, which are scheduled for April 28, 2020 and November 3, 2020. Under current law, a voter can already apply for an absentee ballot online, by mail, or in-person. Under this new bill, which applies only to the 2020 primary and general elections, election officials would be required to mail an absentee ballot application to every eligible voter alongside a postage-paid envelope that voters may use to return their absentee ballot application. The bill would not require voters to apply for an absentee ballot and would not affect voters’ ability to vote in-person at their regular polling place. This bill is a companion to House Bill 2367 PN 3466, which was introduced on March 13, 2020 by Representative Kevin Boyle. Please join me in supporting this important legislation. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. |
Introduced as SB1098