Pennsylvania § 3515 - Prohibition of nonsubstantive requirements.

§ 3515. Prohibition of nonsubstantive requirements.

(a) Mistake, omission or failure to satisfy.--None of the following shall invalidate a document submitted under this chapter:

(1) A voter's mistake or omission in the completion of a document under this chapter as long as the mistake or omission does not prevent determining whether a covered voter is eligible to vote.

(2) Failure to satisfy a nonsubstantive requirement, such as using paper or envelopes of a specified size or weight.

(b) Write-in ballots.--In a write-in ballot authorized by this chapter or in a vote for a write-in candidate on a regular ballot used by a covered voter, if the intention of the voter is discernable under the standards that define what constitutes a valid vote developed pursuant to section 204(h) of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, an abbreviation, misspelling or other minor variation in the form of the name of a candidate or a political party shall be accepted as a valid vote.

(c) Notarization.--Notarization is not required for the execution of a document to be submitted under this chapter. An authentication, other than the state declaration or the FWAB declaration, is not required for execution of a document under this chapter. The state declaration and FWAB declaration, and any information in either declaration, may be compared with information on file to ascertain the validity of the document.