PRINTER'S NO. 815
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
765
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY MATZIE, WARNER, SCHLOSSBERG, McNEILL, READSHAW,
MARSHALL, BURNS, IRVIN AND HILL-EVANS, MARCH 8, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 8, 2019
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 voting machines, further providing for voting
by ballot.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1116 of the act of June 3, 1937
(P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is
amended to read:
Section 1116. Voting by Ballot.--(a) If a method of
election for any candidates or offices is prescribed by law, in
which the use of voting machines is not possible or practicable,
or in case, at any election, the number of candidates nominated
or seeking nomination for any office renders the use of voting
machines for such office at such election impracticable, or if,
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for any other reason, at any election the use of voting machines
is not possible or practicable, the county election board may
arrange to have the voting for such or all offices conducted by
paper ballots. In such cases, ballots shall be printed for such
or all offices, and the election conducted by the election
officers herein provided for, and the ballots counted and return
thereof made in the manner required by law for such offices, in
so far as paper ballots are used.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, for
elections held on or after May 21, 2019, until such time as the
Secretary of the Commonwealth certifies by publication in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin that all voting machines used in a county
have a voter-verifiable paper ballot or paper record of votes
cast, the county election board shall arrange to have the voting
for all offices and candidates and all constitutional or other
questions conducted by paper ballots. In such cases, ballots
shall be printed for all offices and candidates and all
constitutional or other questions, and the elections conducted
by the election officers herein provided for, and the ballots
counted and return thereof made in the manner required by law
for such offices and candidates and questions, in so far as
paper ballots are used. Costs incurred by a county in having
voting conducted by paper ballots shall be borne by the
Commonwealth.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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