PRINTER'S NO. 129
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
255
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY FONTANA, KITCHEN, FARNESE, TEPLITZ, BREWSTER,
BLAKE, COSTA, SCHWANK, WILEY, YUDICHAK, BOSCOLA, HUGHES,
SMITH, WILLIAMS AND LEACH, JANUARY 15, 2015
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 15, 2015
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," providing for early voting in primaries and
elections.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known
as the Pennsylvania Election Code, 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.
Each county board shall provide for early voting to begin 15
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days prior to the dates of primaries and elections established
in accordance with Article VI and to end 14 days after the
starting date.
Section 1202-A. Early voting sites.
Each county board shall designate early voting sites where
electors may cast their ballots during the early voting period
established in accordance with section 1201-A. These sites shall
include the main office of the county board and any other sites
designated by the county board. The county board shall make
available at these sites the same equipment used on election day
as provided for in Article XI. The early voting sites shall be
geographically located to provide electors in the election
district an equal opportunity to cast a ballot.
Section 1203-A. Days and times for opening and closing polls at
early voting sites.
Each county board shall designate the days and hours that
early voting sites will be open, provided that all sites
throughout the county shall have uniform days and hours, shall
be open eight hours each weekday, shall be open a minimum of an
aggregate eight hours each weekend, and shall not open prior to
7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time or close before 7 p.m. Eastern
Standard Time.
Section 1204-A. Voting check list.
Each county board shall maintain a voting check list as
provided for in section 1212 in such 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 1205-A. Disposition of returns.
Each county board shall track votes by precinct but shall not
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tabulate votes prior to the close of the polls on election day.
Section 1206-A. Notice of early voting.
Each county board shall, not earlier than 15 days nor later
than nine days before each November election, give notice of
early voting by newspaper publication in the county in
accordance with the provisions of section 106, the notice to be
published twice in counties of the first class and once in all
other counties. Each county board shall also post the notice on
its publicly accessible Internet website.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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