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Approval of registration applications - 25 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1328

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     § 1328.  Approval of registration applications.
        (a)  Examination.--Upon receiving a voter registration
     application, a commissioner, clerk or registrar of a commission
     shall do all of the following:
            (1)  Initial and date the receipt of the application.
            (2)  Examine the application to determine all of the
        following:
                (i)  Whether the application is complete.
                (ii)  Whether the applicant is a qualified elector.
                (iii)  Whether the applicant has an existing
            registration record. After the commission is connected to
            the SURE system, the commissioner, clerk or registrar
            shall search the SURE system on a Statewide basis to
            determine if the applicant has an existing registration
            record.
                (iv)  Whether the applicant is entitled or qualified
            to receive the requested transfer or change, if
            applicable.
        (b)  Decision.--A commission shall do one of the following:
            (1)  Record and forward a voter registration application
        to the proper commission if the commission finds during its
        examination under subsection (a) that the applicant does not
        reside within the commission's county but resides elsewhere
        in this Commonwealth.
            (2)  Reject a voter registration application, indicate
        the rejection and the reasons for the rejection on the
        application and notify the applicant by first class
        nonforwardable mail, return postage guaranteed of the
        rejection and the reason if the commission finds during its
        examination under subsection (a) any of the following:
                (i)  The application was not properly completed and,
            after reasonable efforts by the commission to ascertain
            the necessary information, the application remains
            incomplete or inconsistent.
                (ii)  The applicant is not a qualified elector.
                (iii)  The applicant is not entitled to a transfer of
            registration or a change of address.
                (iv)  The applicant is not legally qualified for a
            change of name.
        A rejection shall be made no later than ten days before the
        election succeeding the filing of the application.
            (3)  Process a voter registration application in
        accordance with subsection (c) if the commission finds during
        its examination under subsection (a) all of the following:
                (i)  The application requests registration.
                (ii)  The application contains the required
            information indicating that the applicant is a qualified
            elector of the county.
            (4)  Process a voter registration application in
        accordance with subsection (c) and update its registration
        records if the commission finds during its examination under
        subsection (a) all of the following:
                (i)  The application requests registration.
                (ii)  The application contains the required
            information indicating that the applicant is a qualified
            elector of the county.
                (iii)  The applicant is currently a registered
            elector of the county.
            (5)  Process a voter registration application in
        accordance with subsection (c) and request transfer of
        registration records in accordance with subsection (d) if the
        commission finds during its examination under subsection (a)
        all of the following:
                (i)  The application requests registration.
                (ii)  The application contains the required
            information indicating that the applicant is a qualified
            elector of the county.
                (iii)  The applicant is currently a registered
            elector of another county.
            (6)  Process a voter registration application in
        accordance with subsection (c) and request transfer of
        registration records in accordance with subsection (d) if the
        commission finds during its examination under subsection (a)
        all of the following:
                (i)  The application requests a transfer of
            registration.
                (ii)  The application contains the required
            information indicating that the applicant is a qualified
            elector of the county.
                (iii)  The applicant is currently a registered
            elector of another county.
            (7)  Process a voter registration application in
        accordance with subsection (c) and update its registration if
        the commission finds during its examination under subsection
        (a) all of the following:
                (i)  The application requests a change of address.
                (ii)  The application contains the required
            information indicating that the applicant is a qualified
            elector of the county.
                (iii)  The applicant is currently a registered
            elector of the county.
            (8)  Process a voter registration application in
        accordance with subsection (c) and update its registration
        records if the commission finds during its examination under
        subsection (a) all of the following:
                (i)  The application requests a change of name.
                (ii)  The applicant is legally qualified to a change
            of name.
                (iii)  The application contains the required
            information indicating that the applicant is a qualified
            elector of the county.
                (iv)  The applicant is currently a registered elector
            of the county.
        (c)  Processing of voter registration.--
            (1)  When a commission has accepted a voter registration
        application under subsection (b)(3), the commission shall
        assign each applicant a unique identification number in the
        SURE system. The commission shall mail a wallet-sized voter's
        identification card to the individual by first class
        nonforwardable mail, return postage guaranteed, which shall
        serve as notice of the acceptance of the application. The
        card shall contain all of the following:
                (i)  Name and address of the individual.
                (ii)  Name of municipality of residence.
                (iii)  Identification of the individual's ward and
            district.
                (iv)  The effective date of registration.
                (v)  Designation of party enrollment and date of
            enrollment.
                (vi)  A space for the individual's signature or mark.
                (vii)  The unique identification number of the
            individual.
                (viii)  A statement that the individual must notify
            the commission within ten days from the date it was
            mailed if any information on the card is incorrect;
            otherwise, the information shall be deemed correct for
            voter registration purposes.
            (2)  When a commission has accepted a voter registration
        application under subsection (b)(4), (5), (6), (7) or (8),
        the commission shall mail a wallet-sized voter's
        identification card to the individual by first class
        nonforwardable mail, return postage guaranteed, which shall
        serve as notice of the acceptance of the application. The
        card shall contain all of the following:
                (i)  Name and address of the individual.
                (ii)  Name of municipality of residence.
                (iii)  Identification of the individual's ward and
            district.
                (iv)  The effective date of registration.
                (v)  Designation of party enrollment and date of
            enrollment.
                (vi)  A space for the individual's signature or mark.
                (vii)  The SURE registration number of the
            individual.
                (viii)  A statement that the individual must notify
            the commission within ten days from the date it was
            mailed if any information on the card is incorrect;
            otherwise, the information shall be deemed correct for
            voter registration purposes.
            (3)  An envelope containing a voter identification card
        shall be marked on the outside with a request to the
        postmaster to return it within five days if it cannot be
        delivered to the addressee at the address given.
            (4)  (i)  If an envelope containing a voter
            identification card has been mailed in accordance with
            paragraphs (1) and (3) and has not been returned to the
            commission by the postmaster within ten days from the
            date it was mailed, the individual shall be deemed a
            registered elector of the county and the commission shall
            enter the individual's registration information in the
            general register. The unique identification number shall
            be entered as the registered elector's SURE registration
            number. No person shall be deemed a registered elector of
            the county until ten days after the voter identification
            card has been mailed.
                (ii)  If an envelope containing a voter
            identification card has been mailed in accordance with
            paragraphs (2) and (3) and has not been returned to the
            commission by the postmaster within ten days from the
            date it was mailed, the individual shall be deemed a
            registered elector of the county and the commission shall
            enter the individual's registration information in the
            general register. No person shall be deemed a registered
            elector of the county until ten days after the voter
            identification card has been mailed.
            (5)  If an envelope containing a voter identification
        card is returned by the postmaster because the envelope is
        undeliverable at the given address, the commission shall
        investigate. If the commission finds that the individual is
        not qualified to register from the address, the commission
        shall reject the application and shall notify the individual
        by first class forwardable mail of this action.
        (d)  Transfer of registration records.--
            (1)  If, during application, an individual discloses that
        the individual is a registered elector of another county, the
        commission of the individual's new county of residence shall
        direct a cancellation notice to the commission of the
        individual's former county of residence in accordance with
        regulations promulgated under this part.
            (2)  Upon receipt of a notice transmitted in accordance
        with paragraph (1), the commission of the individual's former
        county of residence shall investigate. If the commission
        finds that the individual is a registered elector of the
        county, the commission shall verify the address change with
        the registered elector in accordance with this part. Upon
        verifying that the registered elector has moved to another
        county of residence, the commission shall cancel the
        registered elector's registration, transfer a copy of the
        canceled registration record to the commission of the
        registered elector's new county of residence and retain a
        record of the transfer. The commission of both counties shall
        promptly update information contained in their registration
        records.
        (e)  Challenges.--All challenges to applications for
     registration shall be made as provided in section 1329 (relating
     to challenges).

        Cross References.  Section 1328 is referred to in sections
     1222, 1322, 1323, 1328.1, 1501, 1502, 1712 of this title.
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Last modified: November 27, 2007