PRINTER'S NO.  34

 

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

 

SENATE BILL

No.

69

Session of

2013

 

 

 

INTRODUCED BY WASHINGTON, FARNESE, FONTANA, TARTAGLIONE, WILLIAMS, TEPLITZ, LEACH, HUGHES, SOLOBAY AND COSTA, JANUARY 8, 2013

 

 

REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 8, 2013

 

 

 

AN ACT

 

1Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled
2"An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,
3special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,
4primary and election expenses and election contests; creating
5and defining membership of county boards of elections;
6imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
7courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;
8imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,
9revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
10repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to
11elections," further providing for the definition of "proof of 
12identification" and for requirements relating to voter 
13identification.

14The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
15hereby enacts as follows:

16Section 1.  Sections 102(z.5) and 206 of the act of June 3,
171937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election
18Code, added March 14, 2012 (P.L.195, No.18), are amended to
19read:

20Section 102.  Definitions.--The following words, when used in
21this act, shall have the following meanings, unless otherwise
22clearly apparent from the context:

23* * *

1(z.5)  The words "proof of identification" shall mean:

2[(1)  In the case of an elector who has a religious objection
3to being photographed, a valid-without-photo driver's license or
4a valid-without-photo identification card issued by the
5Department of Transportation.

6(2)  For an elector who appears to vote under section 1210, a
7document that:

8(i)  shows the name of the individual to whom the document 
9was issued and the name substantially conforms to the name of 
10the individual as it appears in the district register;

11(ii)  shows a photograph of the individual to whom the 
12document was issued;

13(iii)  includes an expiration date and is not expired, 
14except:

15(A)  for a document issued by the Department of
16Transportation which is not more than twelve (12) months past
17the expiration date; or

18(B)  in the case of a document from an agency of the Armed
19forces of the United States or their reserve components,
20including the Pennsylvania National Guard, establishing that the
21elector is a current member of or a veteran of the United States
22Armed Forces or National Guard which does not designate a
23specific date on which the document expires, but includes a
24designation that the expiration date is indefinite; and

25(iv)  was issued by one of the following:

26(A)  The United States Government.

27(B)  The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

28(C)  A municipality of this Commonwealth to an employee of
29that municipality.

30(D)  An accredited Pennsylvania public or private institution 

1of higher learning.

2(E)  A Pennsylvania care facility.

3(3)  For a qualified absentee elector under section 1301:

4(i)  in the case of an elector who has been issued a current
5and valid driver's license, the elector's driver's license
6number;

7(ii)  in the case of an elector who has not been issued a
8current and valid driver's license, the last four digits of the
9elector's Social Security number;

10(iii)  in the case of an elector who has a religious
11objection to being photographed, a copy of a document that
12satisfies paragraph (1); or

13(iv)  in the case of an elector who has not been issued a
14current and valid driver's license or Social Security number, a
15copy of a document that satisfies paragraph (2).]

16(1)  A non-expired Federal or State issued identification
17card.

18(2)  A current pay stub or paycheck.

19(3)  A current bank statement.

20(4)  A county issued voter registration card.

21(5)  A current lease.

22(6)  A current utility bill.

23(7)  A current credit card bill.

24(8)  A current mortgage statement.

25(9)  A current State issued vehicle registration card.

26(10)  A current vehicle insurance card.

27(11)  Any government issued documentation issued within the
28last year.

29(12)  An armed forces identification card.

30(13)  A current firearms permit.

1(14)  Any current government issued check.

2Required documentation under this definition is sufficient if it
3includes an elector's name and address which are similar to that
4name which appears in the district register.

5Section 206.  Requirements Relating to Voter
6Identification.--(a)  The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
7prepare and disseminate information to the public regarding the
8proof of identification requirements established under sections
91210 and 1302.

10[(b)  Notwithstanding the provisions of 75 Pa.C.S. § 1510(b) 
11(relating to issuance and content of driver's license) to the 
12contrary, the Department of Transportation shall issue an 
13identification card described in 75 Pa.C.S. § 1510(b) at no cost 
14to any registered elector who has made application therefor and 
15has included with the completed application a statement signed 
16by the elector declaring under oath or affirmation that the 
17elector does not possess proof of identification as defined in 
18section 102(z.5)(2) and requires proof of identification for 
19voting purposes.]

20(b.1)  The Secretary of the Commonwealth, in conjunction with 
21the county boards of election, shall ensure that every voter is 
22reissued a voter identification card sufficient for proof of 
23identification under sections 1210 and 1302 no later than sixty 
24days prior to the next scheduled primary or general election 
25after the effective date of this subsection. Replacement cards 
26shall be issued as needed.

27[(c)  The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall prepare the
28form of the statement described in subsection (b) and shall
29distribute the form to the counties and the Department of
30Transportation. The Secretary of the Commonwealth, the Secretary

1of Transportation and the county boards of election shall
2disseminate information to the public regarding the availability
3of identification cards under subsection (b).]

4Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.