Bill Text: PA SB939 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Providing for reimbursement to counties for the costs of obtaining paper-ballot-based voting systems.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-06-05 - Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT [SB939 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-SB939-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 1106
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 939 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY McILHINNEY, RAFFERTY, D. WHITE AND PIPPY, JUNE 5, 2009
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, JUNE 5, 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 reimbursement to counties for the
costs of obtaining paper-ballot-based voting systems.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The definition of "electronic voting system" in
section 1101-A of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320),
known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, added July 11, 1980
(P.L.600, No.128), is amended to read:
Section 1101-A. Definitions.--As used in this article:
* * *
"Electronic voting system" means a system in which one or
more voting devices are used to permit the registering or
recording of votes and in which such votes are computed and
tabulated by automatic tabulating equipment. The system shall
provide for a permanent physical record of each vote cast. This
term shall include a paper-ballot-based voting system
established under section 1108.1-A.
* * *
Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 1108.1-A. Commonwealth Funding.--(a) The
Commonwealth shall provide funds necessary to those counties who
elect to convert to a paper-ballot-based voting system. For the
purposes of this section, a paper-ballot-based voting system is
one that uses a paper ballot marked by the voter by hand or a
paper ballot marked by the voter with the assistance of a
nontabulating ballot marking device. The Department of State
shall pay to each eligible county an amount equal to the sum of
the following:
(1) Documented reasonable costs paid or incurred by a county
board of elections to replace any voting system used to conduct
elections that did not use a paper ballot marked by the voter by
hand or a paper ballot marked by the voter with the assistance
of a nontabulating ballot marking device.
(2) The documented reasonable costs paid or incurred by a
county board of elections to obtain nontabulating ballot marking
devices that are accessible for individuals with disabilities in
accordance with the requirements of section 301(a)(3) of the
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-252, 116 Stat.
1704).
(3) The documented reasonable costs paid or incurred by a
county board of elections to obtain ballot marking stations or
voting booths for the protection of voter privacy.
(4) The documented reasonable costs paid or incurred by a
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county board of elections to obtain paper ballots.
(5) The documented reasonable costs paid or incurred by a
county board of elections to obtain precinct-based equipment
that scans and tabulates paper ballots.
(6) The documented reasonable administrative costs paid or
incurred by a county board of elections that are associated with
meeting the requirements of this act.
(7) The determination of whether costs paid or incurred by a
county are reasonable shall be made by the Department of State.
(b) In order to receive funding, the county must submit the
following information to the Department of State indicating
that:
(1) In the last regularly scheduled election the voting
system that was used was not a paper-ballot-based voting system.
(2) Upon the next election only paper-ballot voting systems
will be used.
(3) A nontabulating ballot marking device will be available
and accessible for individuals with disabilities in each polling
place in accordance with the requirements of section 301(a)(3)
of the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
(4) A sufficient number of ballot making stations or voting
booths will be available for the protection of voter privacy.
(5) A sufficient number of paper ballots will be available.
(6) Any other such information that may be required by the
Department of State to verify compliance with this act.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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