AN ACT

 

1Amending Title 25 (Elections) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
2Statutes, providing for early voting.

3The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4hereby enacts as follows:

5Section 1. Title 25 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
6Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:

7§ 3303. Early voting.

8(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of State shall allow
9electors to vote early at the polling place where they are
10registered in this Commonwealth.

11(b) Sites.--The Secretary of State may designate any city
12hall or permanent public library facility as early voting sites.
13If designated, the sites must be geographically located to
14provide voters in the county an equal opportunity to cast a
15ballot, as is practicable.

16(c) Results.--The results or tabulation of votes cast during
17early voting may not be made before the close of the polls on
18election day. Early voting results shall be reported in the same

1manner as votes cast on election day.

2(d) Designation of sites.--The Secretary of State shall
3designate each early voting site by no later than the 30th day
4prior to an election.

5(e) Opening and closing.--Voting sites shall be open on the
6same days for the same amount of time and shall allow any person
7in line at the closing of an early voting site to vote. Early
8voting sites shall open no sooner than 7 a.m. and close no later
9than 8 p.m. on each applicable day.

10(f) Duration.--Early voting shall begin on the 15th day
11before an election and end on the second day before an election.
12For a special election, early voting shall begin on the eighth
13day before an election and end on the second day before an
14election. Early voting shall be provided for eight hours per
15weekday and eight hours in the aggregate each weekend at each
16site during the applicable periods.

17(g) Municipalities.--Municipalities may provide early voting
18in municipal elections that are not held in conjunction with
19county or State elections. If a municipality provides early
20voting, it may designate as many sites as necessary and shall
21conduct its activities in accordance with the provisions of
22subsections (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e).

23(h) Early voting period.--During early voting periods, each
24judge of elections shall make available the total number of
25voters casting a ballot at each early voting location during the
26previous day. The information shall be updated and made
27available no later than 12 noon of each day and shall be
28contemporaneously provided to the Department of State. The
29ballot of each elector voting early shall be counted even if the
30elector dies on or before election day.

1(i) Early voting voter certificate.--The elector must
2provide identification and must complete an early voting voter
3certificate in substantially the following form:

4EARLY VOTING VOTER CERTIFICATE

5I, , am a qualified elector in this election and
6registered voter of County, Pennsylvania. I do solemnly
7swear or affirm that I am the person listed on the voter
8registration rolls of County and that I reside at the
9listed address. I understand that if I vote unlawfully or
10attempt to vote unlawfully, I could be convicted of a
11misdemeanor of the first degree and shall, upon conviction, be
12sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $10,000 and to
13imprisonment for not more than five years. I understand that my
14failure to sign this certificate invalidates my ballot.

15(Voter's Signature)

16(Address)

17(City/State)

18(j) Challenges.--A challenged voter shall vote a provisional
19ballot. The judge of elections and the minority and majority
20inspectors shall review the ballot and decide the validity of
21the ballot by majority vote.

22(k) Returns.--The canvass of returns for ballots cast under
23this section shall be substantially the same as votes cast by
24qualified electors in election districts.

25Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.