PRINTER'S NO. 2083
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1838
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY SOLOMON, HILL-EVANS, WEBSTER, ZABEL, INNAMORATO,
HERRIN AND WARNER, SEPTEMBER 7, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, SEPTEMBER 7, 2021
AN ACT
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 nomination of candidates, further providing
for casting of lots for position of names upon the primary
ballots or ballot labels and notice to candidates.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 915 of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333,
No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is amended to
read:
Section 915. [Casting of Lots for Position of Names Upon the
Primary Ballots or Ballot Labels; Notice to Candidates.--
Immediately after the last day fixed for filing of such
nomination petitions with them, the Secretary of the
Commonwealth or the county board, as the case may be, shall fix
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a day for the casting of lots, in such manner as may be
prescribed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, or county
board, as the case may be, for the position of names upon the
primary ballots or ballot labels. The Secretary of the
Commonwealth shall give at least two (2) days notice by mail of
said date to all candidates whose petitions have been received
and filed in his office, and the county board shall give at
least two (2) days notice of said date by posting thereof in a
conspicuous place in its office, and by publication once in at
least two newspapers of general circulation published in the
county. All candidates may appear in person, or by agent duly
authorized by letter of attorney, signed and acknowledged by an
officer empowered to take acknowledgments. In the event of any
of said candidates not being present in person or by
representative at the time of casting of lots, it shall be the
duty of the Secretary of the Commonwealth or the county board,
as the case may be, to appoint some person to represent such
absentee. After said lots are cast, the] Position of Names Upon
the Primary Ballots or Ballot Labels.--The Secretary of the
Commonwealth or the county board, as the case may be, shall
[accordingly] establish the random order in which the names of
[said] candidates are to appear upon the primary ballots or
ballot labels by election district, and certify the [same] order
for placing upon the official primary ballots or ballot labels.
The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall establish by regulation
a method to rotate the names of candidates randomly by election
district.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20210HB1838PN2083 - 2 -
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