FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Ruth A. Myers House Democratic Communications Office Phone: 717-787-7895 Fax: 717-783-6839 Email: rmyers@pahouse.net	State Rep. Jaret Gibbons D-Lawrence/Beaver/Butler www.pahouse.com/Gibbons

Gibbons seeks to extend deadline for absentee ballots

HARRISBURG, April 23 – State Rep. Jaret Gibbons has introduced legislation that would extend the due date for the submission of Pennsylvania absentee ballots.

Currently, all absentee ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on the Friday before a primary or general election. Gibbons’ legislation (H.B. 1148) would change the deadline to the close of business on the Monday before the election.

“Pennsylvania’s current deadline is the earliest among all states,” Gibbons said. “It has the biggest impact on our men and women serving our nation overseas. Changing this deadline would not in any way harm the voting process, and it would still give us plenty of time to make sure those ballots are counted.”

As written, the bill would take effect 60 days after enactment and would apply to elections conducted after Dec. 31, 2007. Details on who is eligible to vote by absentee ballot in Pennsylvania are available online at www.votespa.com.

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