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AVOCA &mdash; State Rep. Mike Carroll on Thursday said the implementation of changes in voting procedures last year that included mail ballots, among other adjustments in the state&rsquo;s voting processes, brought to light the urgent need for a series of changes that can improve and clarify what voters must do and how counties process ballots.
				Carroll, D-Avoca, said he will introduce legislation to amend the Pennsylvania Election Code later this month.
				&ldquo;After witnessing the June and November elections in 2020 and the experiences we&rsquo;ve all had with the changes related to mail-in ballots, it&rsquo;s become quite obvious that many adjustments are necessary for both voters and counties,&rdquo; Carroll noted. 
				The changes being offered by Carroll include:
				&#8226; Return the voter registration deadline to 30 days before election day.
				&#8226; Change the absentee and mail-in ballot application deadline to three weeks before election day.
				&#8226; Eliminate the mail-in ballot secrecy envelope.
				&#8226; Require that the pre-canvassing of mail-in ballots begin on the Saturday prior to election day.
				&#8226; Require counties to install one ballot drop box per 30,000 residents.
				&#8226; Prohibit the curing of ballots once received by the county board of elections.
				&#8226; Prohibit the receipt of mail-in or absentee ballots after 8 p.m. on election day, except for military ballots.
				Carroll said recent recommendations by the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania highlighted the specific need to pre-canvass mail ballots earlier than election day and change the deadline by which a voter may apply for a mail ballot.
				&ldquo;It is imperative clarifications are made to provide both clearer guidance on how our elections are managed and what voters must do to ensure their votes are counted,&rdquo; Carroll said. &ldquo;I intend to do all I can to prevent a stalemate in Harrisburg that results in inaction.&rdquo;

Carroll to introduce election code bill