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Sunday, May 28, 1995     Page: 14A

Election reforms under consideration
   
Because of the 1993 Stinson-Marks election fraud scandal in Philadelphia’s
2nd
    Senate District, the state Legislature is considering extensive election
reforms, including:
   
Amending the election code to prevent absentee ballot fraud and political
action committee abusesReplacing the elected Philadelphia City Commissioners
with civil service employees to oversee elections.
   
Banning payment of financial incentives for soliciting absentee ballots.
   
With narrow exceptions, prohibiting anyone but authorized officials from
delivering absentee ballots to voters or delivering such ballots to the Board
of Elections.
   
When there is evidence of widespread fraud, permitting the court to impound
all absentee ballots to facilitate an orderly review.
   
Shifting to the courts the authority to rule on ballot challenges,
abolishing the three, elected city commissioner positions.
   
Not allowing candidates or members of their immediate families help run
polling places, and banning candidates from entering the enclosed area of a
polling place except to cast votes.