PRINTER'S NO. 666
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
674
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY SCHWANK, BREWSTER, TEPLITZ, TARTAGLIONE, COSTA AND
WARD, MARCH 31, 2015
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 31, 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," in preliminary provisions, providing for the
definition of "credentialed media"; and, in preparation for
and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for
regulations in force at polling places.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 102 of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333,
No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is amended by
adding a subsection to read:
Section 102. Definitions.--The following words, when used in
this act, shall have the following meanings, unless otherwise
clearly apparent from the context:
* * *
(z.6) The term "credentialed media" shall mean a person
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whose business includes reporting or commenting to the public on
current events and news through print, electronic, digital or
other media and who complied with the provisions of section
1220.
* * *
Section 2. Section 1220(a) and (d) of the act are amended
and the section is amended by adding subsections to read:
Section 1220. Regulations in Force at Polling Places.--(a)
Until the polls are closed, no person shall be allowed in the
polling place outside of the enclosed space at any primary or
election, except the watchers, voters not exceeding ten at any
one time who are awaiting their turn to vote, credentialed media
and peace officers, when necessary for the preservation of the
peace. No elector shall be allowed to occupy a voting
compartment or voting machine booth already occupied by another,
except when giving assistance as permitted by this act.
* * *
(d) All persons, except election officers, clerks, machine
inspectors, overseers, watchers, persons in the course of
voting, persons lawfully giving assistance to voters,
credentialed media and peace and police officers, when permitted
by the provisions of this act, must remain at least ten (10)
feet distant from the polling place during the progress of the
voting.
* * *
(g) Credentialed media may be within ten (10) feet of a
polling place while polls are open to record the events in
writing or in film, video or digital images while the processes
do not unreasonably disturb the order and conduct of elections.
Credentialed media seeking entry to a polling place must be
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accommodated as reasonably as possible . A determination by the
judge of elections that the presence of credentialed media may
not reasonably be accommodated may be overturned or modified by
the county board of elections .
(h) Credentialed media may not:
(1) report or disclose in any form the identity of an elector
within the polling place without the elector's permission;
(2) attempt to interview electors while either one is within
the polling place;
(3) enter the enclosed space; or
(4) record the casting of an actual ballot.
(i) Credentialed media shall notify the Secretary of the
Commonwealth or the county board of elections before the close
of work on the Tuesday last preceding the primary or election of
their intent to be present in a polling place and identify the
individuals for whom admission is sought. Credentialed media
shall be permitted into a polling place without such
notification after their credentialed status is verified by the
county board of elections. The county board of elections may not
unreasonably withhold a verification.
(j) No later than the day preceding the primary or election,
the Secretary of the Commonwealth or the county board of
elections shall make available for each member of the
credentialed media requesting it a pass or other authorization
it may require for credentialed media to enter a polling place.
A pass or other authorization issued for the election by the
Secretary of the Commonwealth shall be valid at any polling
place in this Commonwealth without prior notice to a board of
elections. A county board of elections may, in the exercise of
reasonable discretion, permit credentialed media to enter a
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polling place despite failing to notify it before the close of
work on the Tuesday last preceding a primary or election.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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