Trial Engrossment of Amendment A00954 to House Bill 0171 P.N. 0135, Regular Session 2017-2018

A00954

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 provisions relating to the Secretary of the

Commonwealth, providing for same-day registration of a

qualified elector; and, in district election officers,

further providing for appointment of watchers.

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 1. The act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known

as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is amended by adding a

section to read:

Section 207. Same-Day Voter Registration.--(a) A qualified

elector may register on election day by appearing in person at

the polling place for the electoral district in which the

individual maintains residence by completing and submitting a

registration application to the judge of elections and providing

proof of identification and residence.

(b) In addition to providing a completed voter registration

form, an applicant must provide a valid form of identification,

including any of the following government-issued forms of

identification:

(1) A valid driver's license or identification card issued

by the Department of Transportation.

(2) A valid identification card issued by another agency of

the Commonwealth.

(3) A valid identification card issued by the United States

Government.

(4) A valid United States passport.

(5) A valid United States Armed Forces identification card.

elector, the judge of elections at the polling place shall issue

a provisional ballot, provided by the county board of elections,

which is to be completed by the qualified elector and sealed in

an envelope along with the voter registration application.

(2) Within ten days of an election, the Department of State

shall approve or deny a voter registration application pursuant

to the provisions established in 25 Pa.C.S. § 1328 (relating to

approval of registration applications).

(3) The provisional ballot shall not be counted until the

Department of State has approved the voter registration

application.

(4) The qualified elector shall be notified in writing by

the Department of State as to the approval or denial of a voter

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registration application.

(d) An individual qualified to register to vote under 25

Pa.C.S. § 1301(a) (relating to qualifications to register) may

apply to register under this section.

(e) In the administration of voter registration, each

registration commission shall ensure that any applicant who is a

qualified elector is registered to vote in an election when, in

the case of same-day voter registration, the valid voter

registration application of the applicant is accepted in the

appropriate electoral district by the presiding judge of

elections.

(f) The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall print and

distribute same-day voter registration applications to all

polling places throughout this Commonwealth. Along with the

distribution of such applications, the Secretary of the

Commonwealth shall also include instructions to inform the

applicant of the same-day voter registration application process

and the process for counting the applicant's vote and verifying

the applicant's eligibility.

Section 2. Section 417(b) of the act 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

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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

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

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documents.

* * *

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

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