Pennsylvania 2023-2024 Regular Session

Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB224

Introduced
1/31/23  
Refer
1/31/23  
Refer
9/18/23  
Report Pass
9/18/23  
Refer
9/19/23  
Report Pass
9/19/23  
Engrossed
9/20/23  
Refer
9/21/23  
Refer
10/4/23  
Report Pass
10/5/23  
Refer
10/16/23  
Report Pass
10/17/23  

Caption

In dates of elections and primaries and special elections, further providing for general primary and candidates to be nominated and party officers to be elected and providing for school district budget timeline for 2024 and for procedure for securing approval of electors.

Impact

The implications of SB224 include a more structured approach to managing election processes, which could streamline operations within electoral bodies. The new voter identification requirements may impact the accessibility of voting for some constituents. With defined timelines for the 2024 primaries, this could lead to more organized campaigns and potentially higher voter turnout as processes are clarified and improved. Furthermore, modifications to absentee ballot handling procedures may ensure greater confidence in the integrity of the elections.

Summary

SB224 amends the Pennsylvania Election Code, specifically addressing various provisions related to elections, such as general, municipal, special, and primary elections. It introduces changes aimed at enhancing election integrity, including updated requirements for voter identification and procedures for handling absentee ballots. The bill also focuses on setting clear timelines for school district budget approvals and conditions for the nomination of candidates, particularly in the upcoming 2024 election cycle.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding SB224 appears to be mixed. Supporters advocate that the reforms are necessary to secure the electoral process and restore public confidence. They argue that defining clear rules and requirements will eliminate confusion among voters and election officials alike. Conversely, critics express concerns over the potential disenfranchisement of voters, particularly those who may lack the necessary identification or who find the new procedures burdensome. This polarized sentiment highlights the tension between ensuring election integrity and maintaining voter access.

Contention

Notable points of contention include the debate over voter identification requirements, which some view as a necessary measure against fraud while others see it as an obstacle for eligible voters. Additionally, the provisions for absentee ballots have raised concerns regarding their accessibility and the implications for voters who may be unfamiliar with the new procedures. The timing of these amendments before significant elections further complicates the conversation, bringing to light issues of voter readiness and education on the new laws.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Similar Bills

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in election districts and polling places, further providing for polling places to be selected by county board, for public buildings to be used where possible and portable polling places and for temporary polling places; providing for registration of electors; in ballots, further providing for form of official election ballot and for number of ballots to be printed and specimen ballots; in voting machines, further providing for examination and approval of voting machines by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, for requirements of voting machines, for preparation of voting machines by county election boards and for delivery of voting machines and supplies by county election boards to election officers; in electronic voting systems, further providing for experimental use of electronic voting systems and for statistical sample and providing for requirements of accessible voting machines and for voting system defects, disclosure, investigations and penalties; repealing provisions relating to voting apparatus bonds; providing for election equipment funding; in preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, providing for voter's bill of rights, for senior voter's bill of rights and for disabled voter's bill of rights and further providing for delivery of ballots and supplies to judges of election, for time for opening and closing polls, for opening of polls, posting cards of instruction and notices of penalties and voters' rights and examination of voting machines, 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, for assistance in voting and for deadline for receipt of valid voter registration application and providing for prohibitions; in voting by qualified absentee electors, further providing for applications for official absentee ballots, for date of application for absentee ballot, for delivering or mailing ballots and for voting by absentee electors, providing for supervised voting by qualified absentee electors in certain facilities and further providing for canvassing of official absentee ballots and mail-in ballots; in voting by qualified mail-in electors, further providing for applications for official mail-in ballots, for date of application for mail-in ballot, for delivering or mailing ballots and for voting by mail-in electors; in Pennsylvania Election Law Advisory Board, further providing for Pennsylvania Election Law Advisory Board; providing for early voting by qualified electors; in returns of primaries and elections, further providing for returns to be open to public inspection and exceptions and for computation of returns by county board, certification and issuance of certificates of election; repealing provisions relating to Election Integrity Grant Program; in recounts and contests, providing for powers and duties of the Attorney General relating to elections and for powers and duties of district attorneys relating to elections; in penalties, further providing for disobeying lawful instructions, for perjury, for false affidavits of candidates, for refusal to permit inspection of papers, destruction or removal and Secretary of the Commonwealth, for refusal to permit inspection of papers, destruction or removal and county boards of elections, for insertion and alteration of entries in documents, removal and refusal to deliver, for refusal to permit overseers, watchers, attorneys or candidates to act, for driving away watchers, attorneys, candidates or overseers, for refusal to permit election officers, clerks and machine inspectors to act and driving away said persons, for refusal to administer oath and acting without being sworn, for violation of oath of office by election officers, for peace officers, failure to render assistance and hindering or delaying county board members and others, for nomination petitions and papers and offenses by signers, for false signatures and statements in nomination petitions and papers, for nomination petitions, certificates and papers, destruction, fraudulent filing and suppression, for offenses by printers of ballots, for unlawful possession of ballots and counterfeiting ballots, for forging and destroying ballots, for tampering with voting machines, for destroying, defacing or removing notices, et cetera, for police officers at polling places, for peace officer, failure to quell disturbances at polls and hindering or delaying election officers and others, for election officers permitting unregistered electors to vote, challenges and refusing to permit qualified electors to vote, for election officers refusing to permit elector to vote in proper party at primaries, for frauds by election officers, for prying into ballots, for interference with primaries and elections, frauds and conspiracy, for persons interfering in other districts, for assault and battery at polls, for unlawful assistance in voting, for election officers permitting unlawful assistance, for failure to keep and return record of assisted voters, for unlawful voting, for elector voting ballot of wrong party at primary, for repeat voting at elections, for removing ballots, for commissioners to take soldiers' votes, for fraudulent voting by soldiers, for bribery at elections, for receipts and disbursements of primary and election expenses by persons other than candidates and treasurers, for receipts of primary and election expenses by unauthorized persons, for contributions by corporations or unincorporated associations, for failure to file expense account, for prohibiting duress and intimidation of voters and interference with the free exercise of the elective franchise, for failure to perform duty, for hindering or delaying performance of duty, for violation of any provision of act and for violations of provisions relating to absentee and mail-in ballots and repealing provisions relating to violation of public funding of elections and providing for unlawful collection of ballots and for prohibiting duress and intimidation of elections officials; providing for reimbursements and withholding; and making an appropriation and making a repeal.