Bill Text: PA SB434 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Providing for early voting.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-02-07 - Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT [SB434 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-SB434-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 420
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 434 Session of2011
INTRODUCED BY LEACH, FONTANA, BOSCOLA AND TARTAGLIONE, FEBRUARY 7, 2011
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 7, 2011
AN ACT
Amending Title 25 (Elections) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, providing for early voting.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 25 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 3303. Early voting.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of State shall allow
electors to vote early at the polling place where they are
registered in this Commonwealth.
(b) Sites.--The Secretary of State may designate any city
hall or permanent public library facility as early voting sites.
If designated, the sites must be geographically located to
provide voters in the county an equal opportunity to cast a
ballot, as is practicable.
(c) Results.--The results or tabulation of votes cast during
early voting may not be made before the close of the polls on
election day. Early voting results shall be reported in the same
manner as votes cast on election day.
(d) Designation of sites.--The Secretary of State shall
designate each early voting site by no later than the 30th day
prior to an election.
(e) Opening and closing.--Voting sites shall be open on the
same days for the same amount of time and shall allow any person
in line at the closing of an early voting site to vote. Early
voting sites shall open no sooner than 7 a.m. and close no later
than 8 p.m. on each applicable day.
(f) Duration.--Early voting shall begin on the 15th day
before an election and end on the second day before an election.
For a special election, early voting shall begin on the eighth
day before an election and end on the second day before an
election. Early voting shall be provided for eight hours per
weekday and eight hours in the aggregate each weekend at each
site during the applicable periods.
(g) Municipalities.--Municipalities may provide early voting
in municipal elections that are not held in conjunction with
county or state elections. If a municipality provides early
voting, it may designate as many sites as necessary and shall
conduct its activities in accordance with the provisions of
subsections (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e).
(h) Early voting period.--During early voting periods, each
judge of elections shall make available the total number of
voters casting a ballot at each early voting location during the
previous day. The information shall be updated and made
available no later than 12 noon of each day and shall be
contemporaneously provided to the Department of State. The
ballot of each elector voting early shall be counted even if the
elector dies on or before election day.
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(i) Early voting voter certificate.--The elector must
provide identification and must complete an early voting voter
certificate in substantially the following form:
EARLY VOTING VOTER CERTIFICATE
I, , am a qualified elector in this election and
registered voter of County, Pennsylvania. I do solemnly
swear or affirm that I am the person listed on the voter
registration rolls of County and that I reside at the
listed address. I understand that if I vote unlawfully or
attempt to vote unlawfully, I could be convicted of a
misdemeanor of the first degree and shall, upon conviction, be
sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $10,000 and to
imprisonment for not more than five years. I understand that my
failure to sign this certificate invalidates my ballot.
(Voter's Signature)
(Address)
(City/State)
(j) Challenges.--A challenged voter shall vote a provisional
ballot. The judge of elections and the minority and majority
inspectors shall review the ballot and decide the validity of
the ballot by majority vote.
(k) Returns.--The canvass of returns for ballots cast under
this section shall be substantially the same as votes cast by
qualified electors in election districts.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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