PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2514
PRINTER'S NO. 2583
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2163
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY SILVIS, ARMANINI, BROOKS, COOK, DIAMOND,
M. MACKENZIE, R. MACKENZIE, MOUL, RADER, BERNSTINE AND RYAN,
DECEMBER 13, 2021
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JANUARY 10, 2022
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, FURTHER
PROVIDING FOR POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
COMMONWEALTH; 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. SECTION 201 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 201. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
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COMMONWEALTH.--THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH SHALL EXERCISE
IN THE MANNER PROVIDED BY THIS ACT ALL POWERS GRANTED TO HIM BY
THIS ACT, AND SHALL PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES IMPOSED UPON HIM BY
THIS ACT, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
* * *
(F.3) TO DEVELOP AND OFFER A MANDATORY TRAINING FOR
WATCHERS.
* * *
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]. 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 elector]: 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
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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 SHALL BE REQUIRED
TO COMPLETE THE TRAINING DEVELOPED AND OFFERED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF STATE WITHOUT COST TO A WATCHER. 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
documents.
* * *
Section 2 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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