Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB443

Introduced
3/14/25  

Caption

In preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, providing for employment leave for voters.

Impact

If passed, SB443 would significantly alter the landscape of voting by providing a legal mechanism for employees to vote, thus reinforcing the state's commitment to facilitating democratic participation. The bill emphasizes that employers must allow qualified employees to take specified time off to ensure they can exercise their voting rights. This regulatory change could lead to increased civic engagement and potentially impact voter turnout, as individuals might feel more empowered to participate in elections if they know their jobs will accommodate their voting needs.

Summary

Senate Bill 443 seeks to amend the Pennsylvania Election Code by introducing provisions for employment leave for voters. Specifically, it mandates that employers grant employees who are registered to vote up to two hours of paid leave to cast their votes on election day. This initiative is aimed at ensuring that all eligible voters have access to the polls without the barrier of work commitments, thereby promoting higher voter participation rates during elections.

Sentiment

General sentiment surrounding SB443 appears to be supportive among advocates for voting rights and worker's rights, who argue that allowing time off for voting is a crucial step towards a more inclusive democracy. Proponents believe that the bill will empower voters and normalize the idea that employers should facilitate civic duties. However, there may be apprehensions from some business owners regarding the operational implications of having employees absent from work during critical hours.

Contention

While the bill seems to propose a positive step towards enhancing voter accessibility, there may be debates on its implementation, such as the timing and duration of the leave. Employers might express concerns about the practical aspects of managing workforce availability during elections, specifically how this law will interact with existing workplace policies and the coordination of employee schedules during peak work hours. Addressing these concerns will be vital in ensuring that the bill can effectively achieve its intended outcomes without creating undue burdens on businesses.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA SB470

In preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, providing for employment leave for voters.

PA HB258

In preparation for conduct of primaries and elections, providing for applicability; and providing for conduct of early voting in primaries and elections.

PA HB806

In preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for assistance in voting.

PA SB929

In preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for manner of applying to vote, persons entitled to vote, voter's certificates, entries to be made in district register, numbered lists of voters and challenges.

PA SB400

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in qualifications of electors, further providing for qualifications of electors at primaries; in party organization, further providing for only enrolled electors to vote at primaries or hold party offices; in nomination of candidates, further providing for candidates to be nominated and party officers to be elected at primaries and providing for procedure for unenrolled electors to cast primary ballots; and, in preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for manner of applying to vote, persons entitled to vote, voter's certificates, entries to be made in district register, numbered lists of voters and challenges.

PA HB1339

In the Secretary of the Commonwealth, further providing for powers and duties of the Secretary of the Commonwealth and for explanation of ballot question and providing for wording of ballot question; in dates of elections and primaries and special elections, further providing for elections on proposed constitutional amendments; in ballots, further providing for form of official election ballot; in voting machines, further providing for form of ballot labels on voting machines; and, in preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for publishing constitutional amendments.

PA HB1178

In county boards of elections, further providing for powers and duties of county boards; in dates of elections and primaries and special elections, providing for authorization of ranked choice voting in municipal elections; in nomination of candidates, further providing for which candidates nominated; in ballots, further providing for form of official primary ballot; in electronic voting systems, further providing for election day procedures and the process of voting; in preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for method of marking ballots and depositing same in districts in which ballots are used and for count and return of votes in districts in which ballots are used; and, in returns of primaries and elections, further providing for persons receiving highest number of votes to be declared elected.

PA HB1488

In dates of elections and primaries and special elections, further providing for elections on proposed constitutional amendments.

PA HB220

Providing for employee voter leave.

PA HB979

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in qualifications of electors, further providing for qualifications of electors at primaries; in party organization, further providing for only enrolled electors to vote at primaries or hold party offices; in nomination of candidates, further providing for candidates to be nominated and party officers to be elected at primaries and providing for procedure for unenrolled electors to cast primary ballots; in preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for manner of applying to vote, persons entitled to vote, voter's certificates, entries to be made in district register, numbered lists of voters and challenges; in voting by qualified absentee electors, further providing for applications for official absentee ballots; in voting by qualified mail-in electors, further providing for applications for official mail-in ballots; in returns of primaries and elections, further providing for computation of returns by county board, certification and issuance of certificates of election; and, in penalties, further providing for election officers refusing to permit elector to vote in proper party at primaries and repealing provisions relating to elector voting ballot of wrong party at primary.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.