HB 979 Pennsylvania House · 2023-2024 Regular Session

An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, 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.

HB 979 amends the Pennsylvania Election Code to clarify the rules for voting in primary elections, specifically addressing the rights of unenrolled electors who have no registered political party affiliation. The bill establishes that only voters enrolled in a political party can vote in that party's primary or hold party office, while allowing unenrolled voters to choose a party at the polling place and cast a ballot for that specific election. Under the new procedures, election officers must ask unenrolled voters which party they wish to support, record that choice on their certificate, and treat them as enrolled for that single vote. Additionally, the legislation updates definitions and repeals penalties related to voters accidentally using the wrong party ballot, streamlining the process for primary election administration.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Apr 24, 2023 Last action Oct 8, 2024
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Amendments
1
Oct 17, 2023
Lower · Passed
Reported as amended
lower
Apr 24, 2023
Committee
Referred to State Government
lower
1 primary · 19 co-sponsors

Sponsors