Bill Text: PA HB238 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Providing for early voting in primaries and elections.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 33-3)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-02-04 - Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT [HB238 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB238-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 248
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 238 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY DePASQUALE, McGEEHAN, BELFANTI, BEYER, BRIGGS, CONKLIN, CURRY, DONATUCCI, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GIBBONS, GOODMAN, HALUSKA, HORNAMAN, JOSEPHS, KIRKLAND, LONGIETTI, MANN, McILVAINE SMITH, MELIO, MUNDY, MURT, M. O'BRIEN, PARKER, PASHINSKI, QUINN, SANTONI, SIPTROTH, THOMAS, WALKO, WANSACZ, WHEATLEY AND WHITE, FEBRUARY 4, 2009
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 4, 2009
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," providing for 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 an
article to read:
ARTICLE XII-A
CONDUCT OF EARLY VOTING
IN PRIMARIES AND ELECTIONS
Section 1201-A. Early voting period.
The county board of each county 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 of each county shall designate early voting
sites where electors may cast their ballots during the early
voting period established in accordance with section 1201-A.
These sites shall include the main office of the county board
and any other sites designated by the county board. The county
board shall make available at these 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 of each county shall designate the days and
hours that early voting sites will be open, provided that all
sites throughout the county shall have uniform days and hours,
shall be open eight hours each weekday, shall be open a minimum
of an aggregate eight hours each weekend, and shall not open
prior to 7 a.m. Eastern Standard Time or close before 7 p.m.
Eastern Standard Time.
Section 1204-A. Voter's certificates; elector identification.
At each early voting site, the county board shall prepare a
suitable number of voter's certificates as provided by section
1203. Each elector who appears to vote at an early voting site
shall complete a voter certificate and shall present to an
election officer one of the forms of photo identification as
established in section 1210.
Section 1205-A. Voting check list.
The county board shall maintain a voting check list as
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provided for in section 1212 in such 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 shall not
tabulate votes prior to the close of the polls on election day.
Section 1207-A. Applicability of Article XII.
Except as provided in this article, the provisions of Article
XII shall apply to early voting in primaries and elections.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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