THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

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.

(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.