PRINTER'S NO. 286
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
306
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY GAINEY, SCHLOSSBERG, RABB, SIMS, STURLA, KINSEY,
DONATUCCI, ISAACSON, SOLOMON, YOUNGBLOOD, DERMODY, HILL-
EVANS, T. DAVIS, LONGIETTI, FREEMAN, DEASY, FRANKEL,
McCLINTON, DAVIDSON, RAVENSTAHL AND WARREN, FEBRUARY 1, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 1, 2019
AN ACT
Amending Title 25 (Elections) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in voter registration, further providing for
methods of voter registration, providing for automatic
registration of qualified electors and further providing for
time and for approval of registration applications.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1321 of Title 25 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
§ 1321. Methods of voter registration.
(a) General rule.--An individual qualified to register to
vote under section 1301(a) (relating to qualifications to
register) may apply to register as follows:
(1) Under section 1322 (relating to in-person voter
registration).
(2) Under section 1323 (relating to application with
driver's license application).
(3) Under section 1324 (relating to application by
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mail).
(4) Under section 1325 (relating to government
agencies).
(b) Automatic registration.--An individual qualified to
register to vote under section 1301(a) shall be registered as
provided in section 1325.1 (relating to automatic registration
of qualified electors).
Section 2. Title 25 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 1325.1. Automatic registration of qualified electors.
(a) Collection of information.--The secretary shall by rule
establish a schedule by which the Department of Transportation,
the Department of Human Services and the Department of Military
and Veterans Affairs shall provide to the department the legal
name, age, residence, citizenship information and signature for
each individual who is qualified to register to vote under
section 1301(a) (relating to qualifications to register).
(b) Registration application.--For the purposes of this
section, the information identified in subsection (a) shall
constitute a completed voter registration application.
(c) Notification of eligibility.--Upon receiving the
information prescribed in subsection (a), the department shall
provide the information to the commission in the county in which
the qualified elector resides.
(d) Notice of registration to qualified electors.--Upon
approval, the commission shall provide to the qualified elector
a notice of pending registration and additional information as
prescribed in section 1328(c)(2.1) (relating to approval of
registration applications).
(e) Regulations.--The secretary shall promulgate regulations
necessary to implement this section.
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Section 3. Sections 1326(b) and 1328(a), (b) and (c) of
Title 25 are amended by adding paragraphs to read:
§ 1326. Time.
* * *
(b) Deadlines.--In the administration of voter registration,
each commission shall ensure that any applicant who is a
qualified elector is registered to vote in an election when the
applicant has met any of the following conditions:
* * *
(5) In the case of automatic voter registration under
section 1325.1 (relating to automatic registration of
qualified electors), if a qualified elector provided notice
under section 1325.1(c) does not decline to be registered as
an elector using the method prescribed by the commission
within 21 calendar days after the commission issues the
notice, the qualified elector's information collected under
subsection 1325.1(a) shall constitute a completed
registration.
* * *
§ 1328. Approval of registration applications.
(a) Examination.--Upon receiving a voter registration
application, a commissioner, clerk or registrar of a commission
shall do all of the following:
* * *
(3) Examine the information provided under section
1325.1(a) (relating to automatic registration of qualified
electors) to determine all of the following:
(i) Whether the application is complete.
(ii) Whether the applicant is a qualified elector.
(iii) Whether the applicant has an existing
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registration record. After the commission is connected to
the SURE system, the commissioner, clerk or registrar
shall search the SURE system on a Statewide basis to
determine if the applicant has an existing registration
record.
(b) Decision.--A commission shall do one of the following:
* * *
(9) In the case of automatic voter registration as
provided in section 1325.1, process a voter registration
application in accordance with subsection (c).
(10) In the case of automatic voter registration as
provided in section 1325.1, reject a voter registration
application, indicate the rejection and the reasons for the
rejection and notify the department of the rejection and the
reason, if the commission finds during its examination under
subsection (a) any of the following:
(i) The application was not properly completed and,
after reasonable efforts by the commission to ascertain
the necessary information, the application remains
incomplete or inconsistent.
(ii) The applicant is not a qualified elector.
A rejection shall be made no later than 21 days after the
information is received pursuant to the provisions of section
1325.1.
(c) Processing of voter registration.--
* * *
(2.1) When a commission has accepted a voter
registration application under subsection (b)(9), the
commission shall mail to each qualified elector by first
class nonforwardable mail, return postage guaranteed, a
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notice of the process to:
(i) Decline registration as a qualified elector.
(ii) Enroll in a political party.
(2.2) If the commission does not receive a request to
stop registration 21 days after the issuance of the notice,
the commission shall assign the applicant a unique
identification number in the SURE system and mail a wallet-
sized voter's identification card to the individual by first
class nonforwardable mail, return postage guaranteed, which
shall serve as notice of the acceptance of the application.
The card shall contain all of the following:
(i) A raised Great Seal of the Commonwealth.
(ii) Name and address of the individual.
(iii) Name of municipality of residence.
(iv) Identification of the individual's ward and
district.
(v) The effective date of registration.
(vi) Designation of party enrollment and date of
enrollment.
(vii) A space for the individual's signature or
mark.
(viii) The unique identification number of the
individual.
(ix) A statement that the individual shall notify
the commission within ten days from the date it was
mailed if any information on the card is incorrect;
otherwise, the information shall be deemed correct for
voter registration purposes.
* * *
Section 4. This act shall take effect in 90 days.
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