DEPARTMENT OF STATE Voter Registration Rights of Convicted Felons [31 Pa.B. 595] On September 18, 2000, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court issued an opinion in the case of Mixon v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 759 A.2d 442 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2000), dealing with the voter registration rights of convicted felons. On December 26, 2000, the Commonwealth Court issued a permanent injunction order in the Mixon case, docketed at No. 384 M.D. 1999. The court enjoined the following sections of the Pennsylvania Voter Registration Act: sections 501(a), 525(b)(4) and 527(a)(4)(iii) and (b)(1)(iv) (25 P. S. §§ 961.501(a), 961.525(b)(4) and 961.527(a)(4)(iii) and (b)(1)(iv)).
As a result of the court's permanent injunction order, convicted felons may make application to register to vote with the appropriate county registration commission once they have been released from prison. To make application to register to vote, a convicted felon may sign a Voter Registration Mail Application (VRMA) form by striking out the language found in § 9(2) on the VRMA until new VRMA forms are printed. Individuals may also apply to register to vote at state offices that provide public assistance and services to persons with disabilities as well as at the Department of Transportation's photo license centers in conjunction with an application for or renewal of a driver's license. To obtain further information on voter registration or to request a VRMA form, visit the Department of State's website at www.dos.state.pa.us or call the Pennsylvania Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation at (717) 787-5280.
KIM PIZZINGRILLI,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 01-145. Filed for public inspection January 26, 2001, 9:00 a.m.]
