[42 Pa.B. 7087]
[Saturday, November 17, 2012][ EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 2012-13 ] Extension of Deadline for Absentee Ballot Applications for General Election of 2012 October 29, 2012
Whereas, the preparations for and effects of Hurricane Sandy and other weather systems that struck or were expected to strike the commonwealth during the week of October 29, 2012, have caused and are expected to cause in parts of the commonwealth the closure of the offices of numerous county boards of elections on Monday, October 29, 2012, and Tuesday, October 30, 2012; and
Whereas, the General Election is scheduled by law to occur throughout the commonwealth on Tuesday, November 6, 2012; and
Whereas, under the provisions of Section 1302.1(a) of the Pennsylvania Election Code (25 P. S. § 3146.2a(a)), the general deadline by which a qualified elector may apply to receive an absentee ballot for the General Election is Tuesday, October 30, 2012, i.e., ''not later than five o'clock P.M. of the first Tuesday prior to the day of any primary or election;'' and
Whereas, the weather-related closures of the offices of numerous county boards of elections during the last two days on which the applications of qualified electors for absentee ballots by law may be received by the county boards of elections make it necessary and proper to extend in those counties the general statutory deadline by which the county boards of elections may receive applications for absentee ballot.
Now, Therefore, I, Tom Corbett, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Emergency Management Services Code (35 Pa.C.S. § 7101 et seq., as amended), and other laws of the commonwealth, do hereby issue this Executive Order as hereinafter set forth:
1. The deadline prescribed by Section 1302.1(a) of the Pennsylvania Election Code (25 P. S. § 3146.2a(a)) by which a qualified elector of a county may apply to receive an absentee ballot for the General Election shall be extended by one additional day for each business day during the week of October 29, 2012, on which the office of the county board of elections was closed for business as a consequence of weather conditions, but in no event shall said deadline be extended beyond 5:00 p.m. prevailing time on Friday, November 2, 2012.
2. The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall post this Executive Order in the Department of State's Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation and in all other appropriate places and shall take all necessary action to provide notice of this Executive Order to the county boards of elections and the general public.
3. Effective Date. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.
4. Termination Date. This Executive Order shall terminate effective November 16, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.
Governor
Fiscal Note: 2012-13. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 12-2216. Filed for public inspection November 16, 2012, 9:00 a.m.]
