Proposal to Expand Absentee Voting

HARRISBURG – Working to minimize barriers to Election Day voting, Sen. Pat Vance (R-Cumberland/York) recently proposed a constitutional amendment that would pave the way for expanded access to absentee ballots.

The Pennsylvania Constitution specifies categories of voters that the General Assembly may permit to vote by absentee ballot. These categories include voters who will not be in their home municipality due to their duties, occupation or business. Under the proposed amendment, the General Assembly would be authorized to extend absentee ballots to those individuals regardless of the reason for their absence.

"This proposal helps to expand access to the election process, which was one of the goals of the Pennsylvania Election Reform Task Force" Vance said. "With only about 67 percent of eligible voters exercising their right this past November, I am hopeful this amendment will allow more people to participate in elections. It is important to remove election hurdles."

Senate Bill 486 will need to pass the General Assembly in identical forms in two consecutive legislative sessions and then win approval from the voters before the changes would be made.