§ 102Definitions

The following words, when used
in this act, shall have the following meanings, unless otherwise
clearly apparent from the context:
   (a) The word "candidate" shall, unless the context otherwise
requires, include both candidates for nomination and election.
   (a.1) The word "canvass" shall mean the gathering of ballots
after the final pre-canvass meeting and the counting, computing
and tallying of the votes reflected on the ballots. ((a.1)
amended Mar. 27, 2020, P.L.41, No.12)
   (b) The word "county" shall mean any county of this
Commonwealth.
   (c) The words "county board" or "board" shall mean the
county board of elections of any county herein provided for.
   (d) The words "district election board" or "election board"
shall mean the election officers required to conduct primaries
and elections in any election district in accordance with the
provisions of this act.
   (e) The words "district register" shall mean the cards
containing all or any part of the registry list of qualified
electors of the same election district, as prepared by the
registration commissions.
   (f) The word "election" shall mean any general, municipal,
special or primary election, unless otherwise specified.
   (g) The words "election district" shall mean a district,
division or precinct, established in accordance with the
provisions of this act, within which all qualified electors
vote at one polling place.
   (g.1) The words "election officer" shall include the judge
of elections and the majority and minority inspectors elected
or appointed by a county board of elections and the clerk or
machine inspector appointed by a county board of elections.
((g.1) added Dec. 9, 2002, P.L.1246, No.150)
   (h) The words "general election" shall mean the election
which the Constitution of this Commonwealth requires to be held
in even-numbered years.
   (i) The words "independent nomination" shall mean the
selection by an independent political body, in accordance with
the provisions of this act, of a candidate for a public office
authorized to be voted for at an election.
   (j) The words "municipal election" shall mean the election
which the Constitution of this Commonwealth requires to be held
in odd-numbered years.
   (k) The word "nomination" shall mean the selection, in
accordance with the provisions of this act, of a candidate for
a public office authorized to be voted for at an election.
   (l) The words "November election" shall mean either the
general or municipal election, or both, according to the
context.

   (m) The word "oath" shall include affirmation and the word
"swear" shall include affirm.
   (n) The word "party" shall mean a political party, as
defined in section 801 of this act.
   (o) The words "party nomination" shall mean the selection
by a political party, in accordance with the provisions of this
act, of a candidate for a public office authorized to be voted
for at an election.
   (p) The words "political body" shall mean an independent
body of electors, as defined in section 801 of this act.
   (q) The words "polling place" shall mean the room provided
in each election district for voting at a primary or election.
   (q.1) The word "pre-canvass" shall mean the inspection and
opening of all envelopes containing official absentee ballots
or mail-in ballots, the removal of such ballots from the
envelopes and the counting, computing and tallying of the votes
reflected on the ballots. The term does not include the
recording or publishing of the votes reflected on the ballots.
((q.1) added Mar. 27, 2020, P.L.41, No.12)
   (r) The words "primary" or "primary election" shall mean
any election held for the purpose of electing party officers
and nominating candidates for public offices to be voted for
at an election.
   (r.1) "Public institution" means institutions primarily
maintained by the Federal, State or local governments and
includes but is not limited to veterans' hospitals and homes,
State hospitals, poorhouses and county homes. ((r.1) added Dec.
11, 1968, P.L.1183, No.375)
   (s) The words "public office" shall include every public
office to which persons can be elected by a vote of the electors
under the laws of this State.
   (t) The words "qualified elector" shall mean any person who
shall possess all of the qualifications for voting now or
hereafter prescribed by the Constitution of this Commonwealth,
or who, being otherwise qualified by continued residence in his
election district, shall obtain such qualifications before the
next ensuing election.
   (u) The words "registered and enrolled member of a political
party" shall mean any qualified elector who shall be registered
according to political designation, in accordance with the
provisions of the registration acts.
   (v) The words "special election" shall mean any election
other than a regular general, municipal or primary election.
   (w) The words "qualified absentee elector" shall mean:
   (1) Any qualified elector who is or who may be in the
military service of the United States regardless of whether at
the time of voting he is present in the election district of
his residence or is within or without this Commonwealth and
regardless of whether he is registered or enrolled; or
   (2) Any qualified elector who is a spouse or dependent
residing with or accompanying a person in the military service
of the United States if at the time of voting such spouse or
dependent is absent from the municipality of his residence:
Provided, however, That the said elector has been registered
or enrolled according to law or is entitled, under provisions
of the Permanent Registration Law as now or hereinafter enacted
by the General Assembly, to absentee registration prior to or
concurrently with the time of voting; or
   (3) Any qualified elector who is or who may be in the
service of the Merchant Marine of the United States if at the
time of voting he is absent from the municipality of his
residence: Provided, however, That the said elector has been

registered or enrolled according to law or is entitled, under
provisions of the Permanent Registration Law as now or
hereinafter enacted by the General Assembly, to absentee
registration prior to or concurrently with the time of voting;
or
   (4) Any qualified elector who is a spouse or dependent
residing with or accompanying a person who is in the service
of the Merchant Marine of the United States if at the time of
voting such spouse or dependent is absent from the municipality
of his residence: Provided, however, That the said elector has
been registered or enrolled according to law or is entitled,
under provisions of the Permanent Registration Law as now or
hereinafter enacted by the General Assembly, to absentee
registration prior to or concurrently with the time of voting;
or
   (5) Any qualified elector who is or who may be in a
religious or welfare group officially attached to and serving
with the armed forces if at the time of voting he is absent
from the municipality of his residence: Provided, however, That
the said elector has been registered or enrolled according to
law or is entitled, under provisions of the Permanent
Registration Law as now or hereinafter enacted by the General
Assembly, to absentee registration prior to or concurrently
with the time of voting; or
   (6) Any qualified elector who is a spouse or dependent
residing with or accompanying a person in a religious or welfare
group officially attached to and serving with the armed forces
if at the time of voting such spouse or dependent is absent
from the municipality of his residence: Provided, however, That
the said elector has been registered or enrolled according to
law or is entitled, under provisions of the Permanent
Registration Law as now or hereinafter enacted by the General
Assembly, to absentee registration prior to or concurrently
with the time of voting; or
   (7) Any qualified elector who expects to be or is outside
the territorial limits of the several States of the United
States and the District of Columbia because his duties,
occupation or business require him to be elsewhere during the
entire period the polls are open for voting on the day of any
primary or election or who is or who may be a civilian employee
of the United States outside the territorial limits of the
several States of the United States and the District of
Columbia, whether or not such elector is subject to
civil-service laws and the Classification Act of 1949 and
whether or not paid from funds appropriated by the Congress,
if at the time of voting he is absent from the municipality of
his residence: Provided, however, That said elector has been
registered or enrolled according to law or is entitled, under
provisions of the Permanent Registration Law as now or
hereinafter enacted by the General Assembly, to absentee
registration prior to or concurrently with the time of voting;
or
   (8) Any qualified elector who is a spouse or dependent
residing with or accompanying a person who expects to be or is
outside the territorial limits of the several States of the
United States and the District of Columbia because his duties,
occupation or business require him to be elsewhere during the
entire period the polls are open for voting on the day of any
primary or election or who is a spouse or dependent residing
with or accompanying a person who is a civilian employee of the
United States outside the territorial limits of the several
States of the United States and the District of Columbia whether

or not such person is subject to civil-service laws and the
Classification Act of 1949 and whether or not paid from funds
appropriated by the Congress if at the time of voting such
spouse or dependent is absent from the municipality of his
residence: Provided, however, That the said elector has been
registered or enrolled according to law or is entitled, under
provisions of the Permanent Registration Law as now or
hereinafter enacted by the General Assembly, to absentee
registration prior to or concurrently with the time of voting;
or
   (9) Any qualified war veteran elector who is bedridden or
hospitalized due to illness or physical disability if he is
absent from the municipality of his residence and unable to
attend his polling place because of such illness or physical
disability regardless of whether he is registered and enrolled;
or
   (10) Any qualified, registered and enrolled elector who
expects to be or is absent from the municipality of his
residence because his duties, occupation or business require
him to be elsewhere during the entire period the polls are open
for voting on the day of any primary or election; or
   (11) Any qualified, registered and enrolled elector who is
unable to attend his polling place because of illness or
physical disability; or
   (12) Any qualified, registered and enrolled elector who is
a spouse or dependent accompanying a person employed in the
service of this Commonwealth or in the service of the Federal
Government within the territorial limits of the several States
of the United States and the District of Columbia in the event
the duties, profession or occupation of such person require him
to be absent from the municipality of his residence; or
   (13) Any qualified elector who is a county employe who
cannot vote due to duties on election day relating to the
conduct of the election; or
   (14) Any qualified elector who will not attend a polling
place because of the observance of a religious holiday:
   Provided, however, That the words "qualified absentee
elector" shall in nowise be construed to include persons
confined in a penal institution or a mental institution nor
shall it in anywise be construed to include a person not
otherwise qualified as a qualified elector in accordance with
the definition set forth in section 102(t) of this act.
   ((w) amended Feb. 13, 1998, P.L.72, No.18)
   (x) The words "members of the Merchant Marine of the United
States" mean persons (other than persons in military service)
employed as officers or members of crews of vessels documented
under the laws of the United States or of vessels owned by the
United States or of vessels of foreign flag registry under
charter to or control of the United States, and persons (other
than persons in military service) enrolled with the United
States for employment or for training for employment or
maintained by the United States for emergency relief service
as officers or members of crews of any such vessels, but does
not include persons so employed or enrolled for such employment
or for training for employment or maintained for such emergency
relief on the Great Lakes or the Inland waterways. ((x) added
Aug. 13, 1963, P.L.707, No.379)
   (y) The word "dependent" means any person who is in fact a
dependent. ((y) added Aug. 13, 1963, P.L.707, No.379)
   (z) The words "person authorized to administer oaths" shall
mean any person who is a commissioned officer in military
service or any member of the Merchant Marine of the United

States designated for this purpose by the United States
Secretary of Commerce or any civilian official empowered by any
State or Federal law to administer oaths. ((z) added Aug. 13,
1963, P.L.707, No.379)
   (z-1) The words "in military service" shall mean the
uniformed services as defined in section 102 of the Career
Compensation Act of 1949 (63 Stat. 804 U.S. Code, Title 37,
Par. 231). ((z-1) added Aug. 13, 1963, P.L.707, No.379)
   (z-2) ((z-2) repealed Dec. 11, 1968, P.L.1183, No.375)
   (z-3) The words "duties, occupation or business" shall
include leaves of absence for teaching or education, vacations,
sabbatical leaves, and all other absences associated with the
elector's duties, occupation or business, and also include an
elector's spouse who accompanies the elector. ((z-3) added Dec.
11, 1968, P.L.1183, No.375)
   (z.4) The word "municipality" shall mean a city, borough,
incorporated town, township or any similar general purpose unit
of government which may be created by the General Assembly.
((z.4) added Feb 13, 1998, P.L.72, No.18)
   (z.5) The words "proof of identification" shall mean:
   (1) In the case of an elector who has a religious objection
to being photographed, a valid-without-photo driver's license
or a valid-without-photo identification card issued by the
Department of Transportation.
   (2) For an elector who appears to vote under section 1210,
a document that:
   (i) shows the name of the individual to whom the document
was issued and the name substantially conforms to the name of
the individual as it appears in the district register;
   (ii) shows a photograph of the individual to whom the
document was issued;
   (iii) includes an expiration date and is not expired,
except:
   (A) for a document issued by the Department of
Transportation which is not more than twelve (12) months past
the expiration date; or
   (B) in the case of a document from an agency of the Armed
forces of the United States or their reserve components,
including the Pennsylvania National Guard, establishing that
the elector is a current member of or a veteran of the United
States Armed Forces or National Guard which does not designate
a specific date on which the document expires, but includes a
designation that the expiration date is indefinite; and
   (iv) was issued by one of the following:
   (A) The United States Government.
   (B) The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
   (C) A municipality of this Commonwealth to an employee of
that municipality.
   (D) An accredited Pennsylvania public or private institution
of higher learning.
   (E) A Pennsylvania care facility.
   (3) For a qualified absentee elector under section 1301 or
a qualified mail-in elector under section 1301-D:
   (i) in the case of an elector who has been issued a current
and valid driver's license, the elector's driver's license
number;
   (ii) in the case of an elector who has not been issued a
current and valid driver's license, the last four digits of the
elector's Social Security number;
   (iii) in the case of an elector who has a religious
objection to being photographed, a copy of a document that
satisfies paragraph (1); or

   (iv) in the case of an elector who has not been issued a
current and valid driver's license or Social Security number,
a copy of a document that satisfies paragraph (2).
   ((3) amended Oct. 31, 2019, P.L.552, No.77)
   ((z.5) added Mar. 14, 2012, P.L.195, No.18)
   (z.6) The words "qualified mail-in elector" shall mean a
qualified elector. The term does not include a person
specifically prohibited from being a qualified absentee elector
under section 1301. ((z.6) amended Mar. 27, 2020, P.L.41, No.12)
   (102 amended Aug. 1, 1941, P.L.672, No.273)
  Compiler's Note: See sections 10 and 11 of Act 18 of 2012
      in the appendix to this act for special provisions
      relating to application of law.