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PA SB421
PA SB421In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in the Secretary of the Commonwealth, providing for requirements for disapproval or decertification of voting apparatuses and for census outreach; in district election officers, further providing for compensation of district election officers; in election districts and polling places, further providing for restrictions on alteration; in nomination of candidates, further providing for petition may consist of several sheets and affidavi
summary
Introduced
03/25/2019
03/25/2019
In Committee
10/29/2019
10/29/2019
Crossed Over
06/25/2019
06/25/2019
Passed
10/30/2019
10/30/2019
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
10/31/2019
10/31/2019
Introduced Session
2019-2020 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in the Secretary of the Commonwealth, providing for requirements for disapproval or decertification of voting apparatuses and for census outreach; in district election officers, further providing for compensation of district election officers; in election districts and polling places, further providing for restrictions on alteration; in nomination of candidates, further providing for petition may consist of several sheets and affidavit of circulator, for manner of signing nomination petitions and time of circulating and for nominations by political bodies; in ballots, further providing for form of official primary ballot, for form of official election ballot, for number of ballots to be printed and specimen ballots and for forms of ballots on file and open to public inspection and ballots and diagrams to be furnished to candidates and parties; in voting machines, further providing for requirements of voting machines and for form of ballot labels on voting machines; in electronic voting systems, further providing for requirements of electronic voting systems, for forms, for election day procedures and the process of voting and for post election procedures; providing for voting apparatus bonds; in preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for manner of applying to vote and persons entitled to vote and voter's certificates and entries to be made in district register and numbered lists of voters and challenges, for method of marking ballots and depositing same in districts in which ballots are used, for instructions of voters and manner of voting in districts in which voting machines are used, for count and return of votes in districts in which ballots are used, for what ballots shall be counted, manner of counting and defective ballots and for canvass and return of votes in districts in which voting machines are used and providing for deadline for receipt of valid voter registration application, for appeals and for appeals to court of common pleas; in voting by qualified absentee electors, further providing for applications for official absentee ballots, for date of application for absentee ballot, for approval of application for absentee ballot, for absentee electors files and lists, for official absentee voters ballots, for delivering or mailing ballots, for voting by absentee electors, for canvassing of official absentee ballots and for public records; providing for voting by qualified mail-in electors; in returns of primaries and elections, further providing for manner of computing irregular ballots; providing for dissemination of information and for jurisdiction; removing references to the Traffic Court of Philadelphia; and making related repeals.
AI Summary
This bill makes several changes to Pennsylvania's election laws, including:
- Providing new requirements for the disapproval or decertification of voting apparatuses, including a requirement for the Department of State to submit a written plan to legislative committees prior to any such action.
- Allowing the Department of State to use up to $4 million in funds for communication, administration, and assistance within each county for ensuring an accurate 2020 census count.
- Increasing the minimum and maximum compensation for district election officers.
- Placing restrictions on altering election districts during the 2020 redistricting process.
- Making changes to the nomination petition process, including allowing the use of stamping to write in candidate names.
- Providing for the issuance of voting apparatus bonds by the Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority to fund the replacement of county voting apparatuses.
- Establishing a deadline of 15 days prior to an election for the receipt of voter registration applications.
- Making various changes to the processes for absentee and mail-in voting, including deadlines, envelopes, and canvassing procedures.
- Providing for the criminal penalty of a misdemeanor of the third degree for knowingly assisting someone who is not a qualified mail-in voter in filling out a mail-in ballot application or mail-in ballot.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance, Government Affairs
Sponsors (9)
Lisa Boscola (D)*,
Camera Bartolotta (R),
Patrick Browne (R),
Thomas Killion (R),
Dan Laughlin (R),
Bob Mensch (R),
Kristin Phillips-Hill (R),
Mario Scavello (R),
Pat Stefano (R),
Last Action
Act No. 77 (on 10/31/2019)
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