Bill
Bill > SB599
PA SB599
In county boards of elections, further providing for expenses of county boards and of primaries and elections to be paid by county, expenses of special elections and boards to be provided with offices; in voting by qualified absentee electors, further providing for date of application for absentee ballot and for voting by absentee electors; and, in voting by qualified mail-in electors, further providing for voting by mail-in electors.
summary
Introduced
04/09/2025
04/09/2025
In Committee
04/09/2025
04/09/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled "An act concerning elections, including general, municipal, special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates, primary and election expenses and election contests; creating and defining membership of county boards of elections; imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth, courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners; imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying, revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to elections," in county boards of elections, further providing for expenses of county boards and of primaries and elections to be paid by county, expenses of special elections and boards to be provided with offices; in voting by qualified absentee electors, further providing for date of application for absentee ballot and for voting by absentee electors; and, in voting by qualified mail-in electors, further providing for voting by mail-in electors.
AI Summary
This bill modifies Pennsylvania's Election Code to make several changes to election procedures. The bill requires county commissioners to provide county boards of elections with a "primary office" at the county seat, instead of just generic offices, and specifies that absentee and mail-in ballot delivery and return must be made to an employee at this primary office located in the county seat. For absentee voting, the bill establishes new procedures for how ballots can be delivered to voters who cannot personally pick them up, including allowing authorized representatives (designated in writing by the voter) to receive and return ballots, or permitting a deputy sheriff or constable to deliver ballots if no authorized representative is available. The bill also clarifies the process for how voters must complete and return their absentee or mail-in ballots, requiring them to mark ballots in specific types of ink, seal them in official envelopes, sign declarations, and either mail the ballot or deliver it in person to an employee at the county board of elections' primary office. The changes aim to standardize and provide more specific guidance for absentee and mail-in voting procedures across Pennsylvania counties. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (9)
Cris Dush (R)*,
Michele Brooks (R),
Wayne Langerholc (R),
Dan Laughlin (R),
Scott Martin (R),
Kristin Phillips-Hill (R),
Greg Rothman (R),
Pat Stefano (R),
Judy Ward (R),
Last Action
Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT (on 04/09/2025)
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...