HB 1422 — An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in voting by qualified mail-in electors, further providing for voting by mail-in electors.

PRINTER'S NO.   1654

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1422
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY PUGH, PICKETT, JAMES, KAUFFMAN, WARNER, BERNSTINE,
        GROVE, ROWE, FLICK, RYNCAVAGE, RADER AND WATRO, MAY 7, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MAY 7, 2025


                                     AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled
 2      "An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,
 3      special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,
 4      primary and election expenses and election contests; creating
 5      and defining membership of county boards of elections;
 6      imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
 7      courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;
 8      imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,
 9      revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
10      repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to
11      elections," in voting by qualified mail-in electors, further
12      providing for voting by mail-in electors.
13      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
14   hereby enacts as follows:
15      Section 1.     Section 1306-D(a) of the act of June 3, 1937
16   (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is
17   amended and the section is amended by adding a subsection to
18   read:
19   Section 1306-D.    Voting by mail-in electors.
20      (a)   General rule.--At any time after receiving an official
21   mail-in ballot, but on or before eight o'clock P.M. the day of
22   the primary or election, the mail-in elector shall, in secret,
23   proceed to mark the ballot only in black lead pencil, indelible
 1   pencil or blue, black or blue-black ink, in fountain pen or ball
 2   point pen, and then fold the ballot, enclose and securely seal
 3   the same in the envelope on which is printed, stamped or
 4   endorsed "Official Election Ballot." This envelope shall then be
 5   placed in the second one, on which is printed the form of
 6   declaration of the elector, and the address of the elector's
 7   county board of election and the local election district of the
 8   elector. The elector shall then fill out, date and sign the
 9   declaration printed on such envelope. [Such envelope shall then
10   be securely sealed and the elector shall send same by mail,
11   postage prepaid, except where franked, or deliver it in person
12   to said county board of election.]
13      * * *
14      (a.2)   Return of completed mail-in ballots.--The elector
15   shall, prior to eight o'clock P.M. on election day, return the
16   elector's completed mail-in ballot by one of the following
17   methods only:
18          (1)   Delivery through the United States Postal Service to
19      the offices of the elector's county board of elections.
20          (2)   Delivery in person to the permanent offices of the
21      elector's county board of elections during its regular hours
22      of operation.
23          (3)   Delivery to a ballot return location established
24      under the following conditions:
25                (i)    A ballot return location may only be operated on
26          the premises of the permanent offices of the board of
27          elections or at the county courthouse.
28                (ii)   A ballot return location must be monitored by
29          at least one inspector of elections from each of the two
30          parties with the highest number of registered electors in

20250HB1422PN1654                     - 2 -
 1        this Commonwealth. If the two inspectors of elections are
 2        unavailable to appear at a ballot return location on any
 3        particular day, a county may not operate the ballot
 4        return location. Each inspector of elections shall
 5        receive the same compensation provided for an election
 6        under this act for each day on which the inspector
 7        monitors a ballot return location.
 8             (iii)   The inspectors of election monitoring a ballot
 9        return location shall verify the identification of each
10        individual returning a ballot consistent with the
11        provisions of this act. The inspectors of election shall
12        also ensure review of each ballot prior to the ballot's
13        return to ensure completeness of the declaration of the
14        elector, signature and date. If, upon inspection and
15        review of a ballot being returned, either inspector of
16        election believes the ballot or its method of return to
17        be in violation of any provision of this act, the ballot
18        shall be secured separately from all other ballots at the
19        ballot return location, and the inspectors of election
20        shall record the date, time, identity of the elector and
21        a record of each ballot being returned in potential
22        violation of this act. The county board of elections
23        shall determine whether the ballots are in violation of
24        any provision of this act and, only if the county board
25        of elections is satisfied that a ballot is not in
26        violation, shall direct the ballot to be pre-canvassed or
27        canvassed.
28             (iv)    A ballot return location must be monitored by
29        video recording during hours of operation. The recording
30        shall be made available for public inspection and

20250HB1422PN1654                  - 3 -
1         retained for a period of two years.
2              (v)    A ballot return location must be considered a
3         polling place for all requirements of this act, including
4         accessibility, access of observers and restriction of
5         political activity.
6     * * *
7     Section 2.     This act shall take effect in 60 days.




20250HB1422PN1654                  - 4 -