PRINTER'S NO. 1659
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
29
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY DAY, ARMANINI, COX, DOWLING, FRITZ, GILLEN, HAMM,
KAUFFMAN, KERWIN, MILLARD, PENNYCUICK, ROWE AND RYAN,
JUNE 3, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JUNE 3, 2021
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 the Secretary of the Commonwealth, providing
for paper ballot specifications.
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 a
section to read:
Section 209. Paper Ballot Specifications.--(a)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each paper ballot
for an election shall:
(1) Include a timing mark, barcode, quick response code or
similar measure designed to ensure greater ballot security in
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
the counting and tallying of ballots.
(2) Be designed with specific standards regarding the
length, width, weight, capacity, codes and watermark, as
determined by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, in consultation
with county boards.
(b) The Secretary of the Commonwealth, in consultation with
county boards, shall consider whether the standards under this
section shall be applied on a Statewide or countywide basis or
only within specific election districts, in light of ballot
security issues that could reasonably occur in an election or
that have occurred in past elections.
Section 2. This act shall apply to elections occurring more
than 90 days after the effective date of this section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
20210HB0029PN1659 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14