In Re Canvass of Absentee Ballots of Nov. 4, 2003 General Election

OPINION

Justice CASTILLE.

The issue on this appeal is whether non-disabled absentee voters may have third persons hand-deliver their ballots to the Allegheny County Board of Elections under Section 3146.6(a) of the Election Code, 25 P.S. § 3146.6(a), where the Board of Elections indicated that this practice was permitted. The Commonwealth Court affirmed the trial court and held that absentee ballots delivered by third persons were valid under these circumstances. For the reasons that follow, we hold that Section 3146.6(a)’s “in person” delivery requirement is mandatory, and that absentee…