Trial Engrossment of Amendment A00950 to House Bill 0171 P.N. 0135, Regular Session 2017-2018

A00950

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

171

Session of

2017

INTRODUCED BY SACCONE, ROTHMAN, DUNBAR, MILLARD, BARRAR, WARD,

SIMMONS, B. MILLER AND GABLER, JANUARY 23, 2017

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 23, 2017

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 district election officers, further providing

for appointment of watchers; and providing for early voting

in primaries and elections.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 417(b) of the act of June 3, 1937

(P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is

amended to read:

Section 417. Appointment of Watchers.--

* * *

(b) Each watcher so appointed must be a qualified registered

elector of [the county in which the election district for which

the watcher was appointed is located] this Commonwealth. Each

watcher so appointed shall be authorized to serve in the

election district for which the watcher was appointed and, when

the watcher is not serving in the election district for which

the watcher was appointed, in any other election district [in

the county in which the watcher is a qualified registered

elector] located in the same county as the election district to

which the watcher is appointed : Provided, That only one watcher

for each candidate at primaries, or for each party or political

body at general, municipal or special elections, shall be

present in the polling place at any one time from the time that

the election officers meet prior to the opening of the polls

under section 1208 until the time that the counting of votes is

complete and the district register and voting check list is

locked and sealed, and all watchers in the room shall remain

outside the enclosed space. It shall not be a requirement that a

watcher be a resident of the election district for which the

watcher is appointed. After the close of the polls and while the

ballots are being counted or voting machine canvassed, all the

watchers shall be permitted to be in the polling place outside

the enclosed space. Each watcher shall be provided with a

certificate from the county board of elections, stating his name

and the name of the candidate, party or political body he

represents. Watchers shall be required to show their

certificates when requested to do so. Watchers allowed in the

polling place under the provisions of this act, shall be

permitted to keep a list of voters and shall be entitled to

challenge any person making application to vote and to require

proof of his qualifications, as provided by this act. During

those intervals when voters are not present in the polling place

either voting or waiting to vote, the judge of elections shall

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permit watchers, upon request, to inspect the voting check list

and either of the two numbered lists of voters maintained by the

county board: Provided, That the watcher shall not mark upon or

alter these official election records. The judge of elections

shall supervise or delegate the inspection of any requested

documents.

* * *

Section 2. The act is amended by adding an article to read:

ARTICLE XII-A

CONDUCT OF EARLY VOTING

IN PRIMARIES AND ELECTIONS

Section 1201-A. Early voting period.

The county board of a county shall provide for early voting

to begin 15 days prior to the dates of elections and primaries

established in accordance with Article VI and to end 14 days

after the starting date.

Section 1202-A. Early voting sites.

The county board of a county shall designate early voting

sites where electors may cast their ballots during the early

voting period established in accordance with section 1201-A. The

sites shall include the main office of the county board and the

other sites designated by the county board. The county board

shall make available at the sites the same equipment used on

election day as provided for in Article XI.

Section 1203-A. Days and times for opening and closing polls at

early voting sites.

The county board of a county shall designate the days and

hours that early voting sites will be open, provided that the

sites throughout the county shall:

(1) have uniform days and hours;

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(2) be open eight hours each weekday;

(3) be open a minimum of an aggregate eight hours each

weekend; and

(4) not open prior to 7 a.m. Eastern Standard Time or

close prior to 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Section 1204-A. Voter's certificates and elector

identification.

As provided under section 1203, the county board shall

prepare a suitable number of voter's certificates at an early

voting site. An elector who appears to vote at an early voting

site shall complete a voter certificate and shall present to an

election officer one of the forms of photo identification as

established in section 1210.

Section 1205-A. Voting check list.

The county board shall maintain a voting check list as

provided for in section 1212 in a way to ensure that electors

are prohibited from casting additional ballots at either an

early voting site or on election day in their precinct.

Section 1206-A. Disposition of returns.

The county board shall track votes by precinct but may not

tabulate votes prior to the close of the polls on election day.

Section 1207-A. Applicability of Article XII.

Except as provided in this article, the provisions of Article

XII shall apply to early voting in primaries and elections.

Section 2 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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