PRINTER'S NO. 806
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.785
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY DALEY, HILL-EVANS, KHAN, SCHLOSSBERG, SOLOMON,
SANCHEZ, GUENST, HADDOCK, MERSKI, DONAHUE, FREEMAN, VENKAT,
KINKEAD, OTTEN, CERRATO, CIRESI, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, HOHENSTEIN,
FIEDLER, KENYATTA, GREEN, WARREN AND WAXMAN, MARCH 3, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 3, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 25 (Elections) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in voter registration, further providing for
methods of voter registration, providing for electronic voter
registration and further providing for preparation and
distribution of applications and for approval of registration
applications; in records, further providing for general
register, for district registers and for reports; in changes
in records, further providing for removal notices and for
change of enrollment of political party; and, in penalties,
further providing for altering registration.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1321 of Title 25 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a paragraph to read:
§ 1321. Methods of voter registration.
An individual qualified to register to vote under section
1301(a) (relating to qualifications to register) may apply to
register as follows:
* * *
(5) Under section 1325.1 (relating to electronic voter
registration).
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21 Section 2. Title 25 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 1325.1. Electronic voter registration.
(a) Establishment.-- Within 180 days of the effective date of
this subsection, the department shall implement and administer
an electronic voter registration application on a secure
computer system, maintained by the department, that permits a
qualified elector to electronically submit an application to
register to vote or make changes to an existing voter
registration.
(b) Compliance.--The application must comply with the
requirements under section 1327 (relating to preparation and
distribution of applications ).
(c) Individuals with disabilities.--The department shall
implement methods for individuals with disabilities, including
individuals who are blind or visually impaired, to submit
information through the computer system established under
subsection (a).
(d) Submittal.--
(1) A qualified elector who applies to register to vote
under this section shall do all of the following:
(i) Enter the data required on the application.
(ii) Provide one of the following:
(A) The last four digits of the qualified
elector's Social Security number.
(B) The qualified elector's driver's license
number or identification card number issued by the
Department of Transportation under 75 Pa.C.S. §
1510(b) (relating to issuance and content of driver's
license).
(C) If the qualified elector does not have the
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30 information required by clause (A) or (B), any other
information required by the department to verify the
identity of the qualified elector.
(iii) Affirmatively attest to the truth of the
information provided by the qualified elector.
(2) (i) The department shall obtain an electronic copy
of the qualified elector's signature from the qualified
elector's driver's license or identification card issued
by the Department of Transportation under 75 Pa.C.S. §
1510(b).
(ii) The department may develop other means of
obtaining an electronic signature from a qualified
elector, including obtaining a copy of a signature on
file with another Commonwealth agency, if the signature
is capable of being transmitted to the department in a
secure fashion.
(3) Notwithstanding the department's ability to obtain
an electronic copy of a qualified elector's signature under
paragraph (2), the department shall transfer the application
to the SURE system for examination and processing by the
appropriate commission in accordance with section 1328
(relating to approval of registration applications). If the
department is not able to obtain an electronic copy of the
qualified elector 's signature, the department shall include a
notation that the qualified elector must provide a signature
at the polling place or, if the qualified elector votes by
absentee ballot, on the absentee ballot application the first
time the qualified elector votes after submitting an
application.
(4) (i) Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to
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30 prevent a qualified elector from printing a completed
application, signing the application and mailing the
application or delivering the application in person to
the appropriate commission in accordance with the voter
registration application deadlines specified in
subsection (g ).
(ii) If a qualified elector satisfies the
requirements of subparagraph (i), an additional signature
shall not be required.
(5) Use of an application by a qualified elector shall
constitute the qualified elector's consent to the use of the
qualified elector's signature on file with the Department of
Transportation or any other Commonwealth agency or otherwise
provided to the department under paragraph (2) for voter
registration purposes.
(e) Duties of department.--
(1) Within 24 months following the effective date of
this paragraph, the department shall promulgate regulations
necessary to implement the provisions of this section. Prior
to promulgation, the department shall transmit notice of the
implementation guidelines to the Legislative Reference Bureau
for publication in the next available issue of the
Pennsylvania Bulletin.
(2) The department shall develop and employ security
measures to ensure the security and integrity of voter
registration applications or changes to voter registrations
submitted electronically under this section .
(f) Changes to registration . --
(1) If an application is submitted within 15 days before
an election:
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30 (i) the application shall be transferred through the
SURE system to the appropriate commission; and
(ii) the appropriate commission shall ensure that
the registrant is not included in the book of qualified
electors until the election at which that voter would,
but for the date of the registration, be eligible.
(2) A registered elector may change information in the
registered elector's voter registration records by using the
application or a form developed by the department for
changes, as determined by the departmen t.
(3) The provisions of subsection (d)(1), (2) and (5)
shall apply to a submittal for a change to the qualified
elector's voter registration records under this subsection.
(4) Notwithstanding the department's ability to obtain
an electronic copy of a qualified elector's signature u nder
subsection (d)(2) for the purpose of a change to an elector's
voter registration records, the department shall transfer the
application for the change to the SURE system for examination
and processing by the appropriate commission in accordance
with section 1328. If the department is not able to obtain an
electronic copy of the qualified elector's signature, the
department shall include a notation that the qualified
elector must provide a signature at the polling place or, if
the qualified elector votes by absentee ballot, on the
absentee ballot application the first time the qualified
elector votes after submitting an application for the change.
(5) (i) Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to
prevent a qualified elector from printing a completed
application for a change to the qualified elector's voter
registration records, signing the application and mailing
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30 the application or delivering the application in person
to the appropriate commission in accordance with the
voter registration application deadlines specified in
subsection (g).
(ii) If a qualified elector satisfies the
requirements of subparagraph (i), an additional signature
shall not be required.
(g) Timing.--For electronic voter registration under this
section, each commission shall ensure that an applicant who is a
qualified elector is registered to vote in an election if the
voter transmits the electronic voter registration application
through the Internet system maintained by the department no
later than 11:59 p.m. on the 15th day prior to the election.
(h) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Application." The electronic voter registration application
developed under subsection (a).
"Computer system." The secure computer system developed and
maintained by the department in which a qualified elector may
electronically submit voter information through the publicly
accessible Internet website of the department.
Section 3. Sections 1327(a)(3), (4), (5) and (6) and (b)(3)
and (4), 1328(a)(2), 1401(a)(5), 1402(b)(2), 1406(a), 1501(b)
introductory paragraph and (1), 1503 and 1704(a) of Title 25 are
amended to read:
§ 1327. Preparation and distribution of applications.
(a) Form.--
* * *
(3) Any person who assists in the completion of the
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30 registration application shall sign or, in the case of
registration under section 1325.1 (relating to electronic
voter registration), shall electronically sign the
application and indicate the person's address. In the case of
those registering under sections 1323 (relating to
application with driver's license application) and 1325
(relating to government agencies), the person providing
assistance shall insert the person's initials or employee or
agent identification number on a separate or detachable
portion of the application or computer data file.
(4) A voter registration application , except an
electronic voter registration application under section
1325.1, shall be printed on stock of good quality and shall
be of suitable uniform size. [ Nothing in this part shall
prohibit the design and use of an electronic voter
registration application which includes the applicant's
digitized or electronic signature. ] The registration
application, including a registration application under
section 1325.1, shall contain the following information;
however, the information may be provided on a separate form
for voter registration made under section 1323 or 1325:
(i) Notice that a registered elector does not need
to reregister unless the registered elector has moved.
(ii) Instructions on how to fill out and submit the
application and notification of when the application must
be submitted to a voter registration office or, for
electronic voter registration under section 1325.1,
electronically, in order to be registered for the ensuing
election.
(iii) Notice that the applicant must be a citizen of
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30 the United States for at least one month prior to the
next election and a resident of this Commonwealth and the
election district for at least 30 days and must be at
least 18 years of age by the day of the next ensuing
election and has not been confined in a penal institution
for a conviction of a felony within the last five years.
The notice required in this subparagraph shall be in
print identical to the declaration under subsection (b).
(iv) Notice that political party enrollment is
mandatory to vote in a primary election of a political
party.
(v) Notice that the commission will mail by
nonforwardable mail to the applicant a voter's
identification card upon acceptance of the application
and that the applicant should contact the commission if
the identification card is not received within 14 days
from the date the application is sent to the registration
office[.] or submitted electronically to the department
under section 1325.1. In the event that the applicant's
electronic registration application did not contain a
signature, the registration card shall contain a notice
that the registered elector must provide a signature the
first time the registered elector votes after submission
of the electronic voter registration application.
(vi) Notice that registration is not complete until
the application is processed and accepted by the
commission or, if submitted electronically under section
1325.1, processed and accepted by the department .
(vii) A warning to the applicant that making a false
registration or furnishing false information is perjury.
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30 The notice required in this subparagraph shall be in
print identical to the declaration under subsection (b).
(viii) Instructions to Federal or State employees
who wish to retain voting residence in county of last
residence to so indicate on the application.
(ix) Notice that, if an individual declines to
register to vote, the fact that the individual has
declined to register will remain confidential and will be
used only for voter registration purposes. The notice
required in this subparagraph shall be in print identical
to the declaration under subsection (b).
(x) Notice that, if an individual does register to
vote, the office at which the individual submits a voter
registration application will remain confidential and
will be used for voter registration purposes only. The
notices required in this subparagraph shall be in print
identical to the declaration in subsection (b).
(5) In jurisdictions where there is a single language
minority, the [secretary] department may print a bilingual
application and develop a bilingual electronic voter
registration application .
(6) In jurisdictions where a single language minority
exceeds 5% of the population, in accordance with applicable
law, the [secretary] department shall:
(i) print a bilingual application and develop a
bilingual electronic voter registration application ; and
(ii) conduct a public educational program among that
language group alerting both organizations and
individuals of that group of the availability of the
bilingual application and encouraging individuals to
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30 register.
* * *
(b) Registration declaration.--
* * *
(3) The registration declaration shall contain the
printed name [and signature of the applicant and the date of
signing.], date of signing and, except for an applicant
submitting a registration under section 1325.1, the signature
of the applicant. An applicant unable to sign the voter
registration application shall make a mark before a person of
the applicant's choice other than the applicant's employer or
an agent of the applicant's union. The person shall insert
the person's name, address and telephone number. If the
person is an employee or agent of the Department of
Transportation or another agency as provided under section
1325 and is assisting the applicant in an official capacity,
the employee or agent shall insert the initials and
identification number of the employee or agent. In the case
of applicants registering under section 1323 or 1325, the
person providing assistance shall insert initials or employee
or agent identification number on a separate or detachable
portion of the application or computer data file.
(4) The official registration application shall contain
a notice entitled "PENALTY FOR FALSIFYING DECLARATION." The
notice shall advise the applicant that if a person signs an
official registration application or submits an electronic
registration application or a change to registration form
under section 1325.1 , knowing a statement declared in the
application to be false, the person commits perjury. The
notice shall specify the penalty for perjury.
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30 * * *
§ 1328. Approval of registration applications.
(a) Examination.--Upon receiving a voter registration
application, a commissioner, clerk or registrar of a commission
shall do all of the following:
* * *
(2) Examine the application to determine all of the
following:
(i) Whether the application is complete. The lack of
an applicant's signature on an application submitted
under section 1325.1 (relating to electronic voter
registration) shall not be grounds for rejecting an
otherwise valid application.
(ii) Whether the applicant is a qualified elector.
(iii) Whether the applicant has an existing
registration record. After the commission is connected to
the SURE system, the commissioner, clerk or registrar
shall search the SURE system on a Statewide basis to
determine if the applicant has an existing registration
record.
(iv) Whether the applicant is entitled or qualified
to receive the requested transfer or change, if
applicable.
* * *
§ 1401. General register.
(a) General rule.--The general register shall contain all of
the following for each registered elector of the county:
* * *
(5) The digitized or electronic signature of the
registered elector. In the case of a qualified elector
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30 permitted to submit a signature the first time that the
qualified elector votes after submitting an electronic voter
registration application under section 1325.1 (relating to
electronic voter registration), the commission shall enter
the qualified elector's signature on the qualified elector's
registration record as soon as practicable after the
election. The qualified elector shall not be subject to the
provisions of section 1210(a.3)(2) of the act of June 3, 1937
(P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code,
until the qualified elector's signature has been entered on
the qualified elector's registration record.
* * *
§ 1402. District registers.
* * *
(b) Computer lists.--
* * *
(2) After a commission is connected to the SURE system,
each commission shall create from its general register a
computer list to be used as the district register. For each
election district, the list shall contain the names of the
registered electors of the election district, alphabetically
by last name of each registered elector. Each page of the
list shall contain the name of the county, the election
district, the date of the election and the date and time the
list was prepared. The computer list shall be in a form
prescribed by the secretary and must contain necessary
information that would otherwise be available in the general
register, including, except for a qualified elector permitted
to submit a signature at the polling place the first time
that the qualified elector votes after submitting an
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30 electronic voter registration application under section
1325.1 (relating to electronic voter registration), a legible
digitized or electronic signature, the street address and
political party of each registered elector, and suitable
space for insertion of the signature of the registered
elector and for insertion by the proper election official of
the number and letter of the stub of the ballot issued to the
registered elector or the registered elector's number in the
order of admission to the voting systems and the initials of
the election official who enters the record of voting in the
district register and whether the elector needs assistance to
vote and, if so, the nature of the disability. The district
register shall be kept at the office of the commission and
shall be open to public inspection, subject to reasonable
safeguards, rules and regulations.
* * *
§ 1406. Reports.
(a) Commission.--By March 1, a commission shall submit to
the secretary an annual report setting forth the number of
electors registered under sections 1322 (relating to in-person
voter registration), 1323 (relating to application with driver's
license application), 1324 (relating to application by mail)
[and], 1325 (relating to government agencies) and 1325.1
(relating to electronic voter registration) . The report shall
specify the number of electors whose registration has been
canceled under Chapter 15 (relating to changes in records) and
any other information required by the secretary.
* * *
§ 1501. Removal notices.
* * *
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30 (b) Use.--A registered elector who removes residence from
one place to another within the same county must notify the
commission by filing a removal notice under subsection (a) or a
signed request for [ renewal] removal that contains the
information required in subsection (a) with the commission not
later than the registration deadline before an election. If
mailed, the notice or request must be postmarked not later than
the deadline for registration or, in the case of an illegible or
missing postmark, received within five days of the close of
registration. The following apply:
(1) An official registration application of an elector
who has registered by mail or electronic voter registration
application under section 1325.1 (relating to electronic
voter registration) qualifies as a removal notice.
* * *
§ 1503. Change of enrollment of political party.
By the deadline for registration, a registered elector who
desires to change the enrollment of political designation or
who, although registered, has not previously enrolled as a
member of a party may appear before a commissioner, registrar or
clerk or may submit an application by mail under section 1324
(relating to application by mail) [ and state in a signed ] or
electronically under section 1325.1(f) (relating to electronic
voter registration). In a case other than submission under
section 1325.1(f), the registered elector shall state in a
signed writing the political party in which the registered
elector desires to be enrolled. If the signature of the elector
is verified by comparison with the registered elector's
signature as it appears on file with the commission, the
commissioner, registrar or clerk shall make the change in its
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30 registration records. [ If] In a case other than submission under
section 1325.1(f), if supported by other evidence of identity, a
mark may be made in lieu of a signature by a registered elector
who is unable to write. The mark must be made in the presence of
a witness who must sign the registration application. For
submissions under section 1325.1(f), the registered elector
shall follow the procedure for verification of the registered
elector's identity specified in section 1325.1 .
§ 1704. Altering registration.
(a) Prohibition.--No registrar, commissioner, clerk or
assistant [or], commission employee or other individual may do
any of the following:
(1) Intentionally insert or permit to be inserted an
entry in a registration record without a proper application
under this part or without requiring the proper evidence of
the right of the applicant to be registered.
(2) Intentionally materially alter a registration record
after the entries have been made unless the alteration is in
accordance with this part. This paragraph does not apply to
an alteration pursuant to an order of a court of common pleas
or of a commission.
(3) Intentionally submit false information regarding a
change of party enrollment or name or address on a
registration record of another individual.
* * *
Section 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
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