Bill Text: PA SB994 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Further providing for regulations in force at polling places.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-07-06 - Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT [SB994 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-SB994-Introduced.html

---

PRINTER'S NO. 1253
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 994 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY PICCOLA, ALLOWAY, EARLL AND WAUGH, JULY 6, 2009
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, JULY 6, 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," further providing for regulations in force at
polling places.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1220 of the act of June 3, 1937
(P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code,
amended August 31, 1971 (P.L.397, No.95), is amended to read:
Section 1220. Regulations in Force at Polling Places.--(a)
Until the polls are closed, no person shall be allowed in the
polling place outside of the enclosed space at any primary or
election, except the watchers, voters not exceeding ten at any
one time who are awaiting their turn to vote, and peace
officers, when necessary for the preservation of the peace. No
elector shall be allowed to occupy a voting compartment or
voting machine booth already occupied by another, except when
giving assistance as permitted by this act.
(b) No elector, except an election officer, clerk, machine
inspector or overseer, shall be allowed to re-enter the enclosed
space after he has once left it, except to give assistance as
provided by this act.
(c) No person, when within the polling place, shall
electioneer or solicit votes for any political party, political
body or candidate, nor shall any written or printed matter be
posted up within the said room, except as required by this act.
(d) All persons, except election officers, clerks, machine
inspectors, overseers, watchers, persons in the course of
voting, persons lawfully giving assistance to voters, and peace
and police officers, when permitted by the provisions of this
act, must remain at least [ten (10)] twenty-five (25) feet
distant from the polling place during the progress of the
voting.
(e) When the hour for closing the polls shall arrive, all
qualified electors who have already qualified, and are inside
the enclosed space, shall be permitted to vote; and, in addition
thereto, all those qualified electors who are in the polling
place outside the enclosed space waiting to vote and all those
voters who are in line either inside or outside of the polling
place waiting to vote, shall be permitted to do so, if found
qualified.
(f) It shall be the duty of the judge of election to secure
the observance of the provision of this section, to keep order
in the voting room, and to see that no more persons are admitted
within the enclosed space than are permitted by this act. The
20090SB0994PN1253 - 2 -
judge of election may call upon any constable, deputy constable,
police officer or other peace officer to aid him in the
performance of his duties under this section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20090SB0994PN1253 - 3 -