PRINTER'S NO. 221
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
258
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY DEASY, HOHENSTEIN, MADDEN, VENKAT, HILL-EVANS,
ZABEL, DELLOSO, SANCHEZ, BURGOS, RABB, GALLOWAY, D. WILLIAMS,
FIEDLER, FREEMAN, OTTEN AND PISCIOTTANO, MARCH 10, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 10, 2023
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 preparation for conduct of primaries and
elections, providing for applicability; and providing for
conduct of early voting in primaries and elections.
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 1200. Applicability.--Except as provided in section
1207-A, this article shall apply to early voting in primaries
and elections.
Section 2. The act is amended by adding an article to read:
ARTICLE XII-A
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
CONDUCT OF EARLY VOTING
IN PRIMARIES AND ELECTIONS
Section 1201-A. Early voting period.
The county board shall provide for early voting to begin 15
days prior to the dates of elections and primaries established
in accordance with Article VI and to end 14 days after the
starting date.
Section 1202-A. Early voting sites.
The county board shall designate early voting sites where
electors may cast their ballots during the early voting period
established in accordance with section 1201-A. The sites shall
include the main office of the county board and the other sites
designated by the county board. The county board shall make
available at the sites the same equipment used on election day
as provided for in Article XI.
Section 1203-A. Days and times for opening and closing polls at
early voting sites.
The county board shall designate the days and hours that
early voting sites will be open. The sites throughout the county
shall:
(1) Have uniform days and hours.
(2) Be open eight hours each weekday.
(3) Be open a minimum of an aggregate eight hours each
weekend.
(4) Not open prior to 7 a.m. Eastern Standard Time or
close prior to 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Section 1204-A. Voter's certificates and elector
identification.
As provided under section 1203, the county board shall
prepare a suitable number of voter's certificates at an early
20230HB0258PN0221 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
voting site. An elector who appears to vote at an early voting
site shall complete a voter certificate and shall present to an
election officer identification as provided under section 1210.
Section 1205-A. Voting check list.
The county board shall maintain a voting check list as
provided for in section 1212 in a way to ensure that electors
are prohibited from casting additional ballots at either an
early voting site or on election day in their precinct.
Section 1206-A. Disposition of returns.
The county board shall track votes by precinct but may not
tabulate votes prior to the close of the polls on election day.
Section 1207-A. Applicability.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Article XII, the provisions
of this article shall apply to early voting in primaries and
elections.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20230HB0258PN0221 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16