Technology (Elections)

HB 155 requires voting system vendors in Pennsylvania to annually disclose known defects in electronic voting systems by January 1 of odd-numbered years, including the defect's impact and corrective measures. Vendors must also report new defects within 30 days. The Department of State can suspend sales, leases, or election use of defective systems and impose a $25,000 civil penalty plus investigation costs for failures to disclose or cure defects. This bill directly affects voting system vendors, the Department of State, and county election boards, which may request investigations into suspected defects. The law aims to ensure transparency and accountability in electronic voting system safety without altering voter eligibility or ballot counting procedures.

SB 313 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to strengthen requirements for electronic voting systems. It mandates pre-election logic and accuracy testing of voting equipment to ensure votes are tabulated correctly, including verifying contest orders, ballot printing, and scanner functionality. The bill also requires county election boards to preprint emergency paper ballots equal to at least 20% of registered voters per election district if electronic systems fail. These provisions directly affect county election boards and polling places, with penalties for falsifying documentation related to testing.

SB 812 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to strengthen oversight of electronic voting systems. It requires the Secretary of the Commonwealth to review these systems for security, functionality, and accessibility, including publicly demonstrating them 30 days before approval. Counties must report voting system malfunctions (e.g., ballot delays or tabulation issues) to the state within 60 days of elections, detailing causes and impacts. The bill also mandates that all review reports and public demonstration recordings be posted on the state’s website for public access.

HB 1235 updates Pennsylvania's Election Code to strengthen oversight of electronic voting systems. It adds definitions for "ballot set" (different ballot types like mail-in or in-person) and "ballot style" (specific candidate arrangements per district), and requires county election boards to conduct mandatory pre-election logic and accuracy testing. This testing ensures voting machines are properly programmed, ballot layouts match official designs, and equipment accurately counts votes before each election. The bill directly affects county election boards, which must complete these tests and document results for all voting equipment used in upcoming elections.