HB 785 — 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.

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
 1   Amending Title 25 (Elections) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 2      Statutes, in voter registration, further providing for
 3      methods of voter registration, providing for electronic voter
 4      registration and further providing for preparation and
 5      distribution of applications and for approval of registration
 6      applications; in records, further providing for general
 7      register, for district registers and for reports; in changes
 8      in records, further providing for removal notices and for
 9      change of enrollment of political party; and, in penalties,
10      further providing for altering registration.
11      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
12   hereby enacts as follows:
13      Section 1.      Section 1321 of Title 25 of the Pennsylvania
14   Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a paragraph to read:
15   § 1321.    Methods of voter registration.
16      An individual qualified to register to vote under section
17   1301(a) (relating to qualifications to register) may apply to
18   register as follows:
19             * * *
20             (5)   Under section 1325.1 (relating to electronic voter
21      registration).
 1      Section 2.        Title 25 is amended by adding a section to read:
 2   § 1325.1.      Electronic voter registration.
 3      (a)   Establishment.--Within 180 days of the effective date of
 4   this subsection, the department shall implement and administer
 5   an electronic voter registration application on a secure
 6   computer system, maintained by the department, that permits a
 7   qualified elector to electronically submit an application to
 8   register to vote or make changes to an existing voter
 9   registration.
10      (b)   Compliance.--The application must comply with the
11   requirements under section 1327 (relating to preparation and
12   distribution of applications).
13      (c)   Individuals with disabilities.--The department shall
14   implement methods for individuals with disabilities, including
15   individuals who are blind or visually impaired, to submit
16   information through the computer system established under
17   subsection (a).
18      (d)   Submittal.--
19            (1)    A qualified elector who applies to register to vote
20      under this section shall do all of the following:
21                  (i)    Enter the data required on the application.
22                  (ii)    Provide one of the following:
23                         (A)   The last four digits of the qualified
24                  elector's Social Security number.
25                         (B)   The qualified elector's driver's license
26                  number or identification card number issued by the
27                  Department of Transportation under 75 Pa.C.S. §
28                  1510(b) (relating to issuance and content of driver's
29                  license).
30                         (C)   If the qualified elector does not have the

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 1              information required by clause (A) or (B), any other
 2              information required by the department to verify the
 3              identity of the qualified elector.
 4              (iii)    Affirmatively attest to the truth of the
 5        information provided by the qualified elector.
 6        (2)   (i)     The department shall obtain an electronic copy
 7        of the qualified elector's signature from the qualified
 8        elector's driver's license or identification card issued
 9        by the Department of Transportation under 75 Pa.C.S. §
10        1510(b).
11              (ii)    The department may develop other means of
12        obtaining an electronic signature from a qualified
13        elector, including obtaining a copy of a signature on
14        file with another Commonwealth agency, if the signature
15        is capable of being transmitted to the department in a
16        secure fashion.
17        (3)   Notwithstanding the department's ability to obtain
18    an electronic copy of a qualified elector's signature under
19    paragraph (2), the department shall transfer the application
20    to the SURE system for examination and processing by the
21    appropriate commission in accordance with section 1328
22    (relating to approval of registration applications). If the
23    department is not able to obtain an electronic copy of the
24    qualified elector's signature, the department shall include a
25    notation that the qualified elector must provide a signature
26    at the polling place or, if the qualified elector votes by
27    absentee ballot, on the absentee ballot application the first
28    time the qualified elector votes after submitting an
29    application.
30        (4)   (i)     Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to

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 1          prevent a qualified elector from printing a completed
 2          application, signing the application and mailing the
 3          application or delivering the application in person to
 4          the appropriate commission in accordance with the voter
 5          registration application deadlines specified in
 6          subsection (g).
 7                (ii)   If a qualified elector satisfies the
 8          requirements of subparagraph (i), an additional signature
 9          shall not be required.
10          (5)   Use of an application by a qualified elector shall
11    constitute the qualified elector's consent to the use of the
12    qualified elector's signature on file with the Department of
13    Transportation or any other Commonwealth agency or otherwise
14    provided to the department under paragraph (2) for voter
15    registration purposes.
16    (e)   Duties of department.--
17          (1)   Within 24 months following the effective date of
18    this paragraph, the department shall promulgate regulations
19    necessary to implement the provisions of this section. Prior
20    to promulgation, the department shall transmit notice of the
21    implementation guidelines to the Legislative Reference Bureau
22    for publication in the next available issue of the
23    Pennsylvania Bulletin.
24          (2)   The department shall develop and employ security
25    measures to ensure the security and integrity of voter
26    registration applications or changes to voter registrations
27    submitted electronically under this section.
28    (f)   Changes to registration.--
29          (1)   If an application is submitted within 15 days before
30    an election:

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 1              (i)    the application shall be transferred through the
 2        SURE system to the appropriate commission; and
 3              (ii)   the appropriate commission shall ensure that
 4        the registrant is not included in the book of qualified
 5        electors until the election at which that voter would,
 6        but for the date of the registration, be eligible.
 7        (2)   A registered elector may change information in the
 8    registered elector's voter registration records by using the
 9    application or a form developed by the department for
10    changes, as determined by the department.
11        (3)   The provisions of subsection (d)(1), (2) and (5)
12    shall apply to a submittal for a change to the qualified
13    elector's voter registration records under this subsection.
14        (4)   Notwithstanding the department's ability to obtain
15    an electronic copy of a qualified elector's signature under
16    subsection (d)(2) for the purpose of a change to an elector's
17    voter registration records, the department shall transfer the
18    application for the change to the SURE system for examination
19    and processing by the appropriate commission in accordance
20    with section 1328. If the department is not able to obtain an
21    electronic copy of the qualified elector's signature, the
22    department shall include a notation that the qualified
23    elector must provide a signature at the polling place or, if
24    the qualified elector votes by absentee ballot, on the
25    absentee ballot application the first time the qualified
26    elector votes after submitting an application for the change.
27        (5)   (i)    Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to
28        prevent a qualified elector from printing a completed
29        application for a change to the qualified elector's voter
30        registration records, signing the application and mailing

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 1             the application or delivering the application in person
 2             to the appropriate commission in accordance with the
 3             voter registration application deadlines specified in
 4             subsection (g).
 5                   (ii)   If a qualified elector satisfies the
 6             requirements of subparagraph (i), an additional signature
 7             shall not be required.
 8      (g)    Timing.--For electronic voter registration under this
 9   section, each commission shall ensure that an applicant who is a
10   qualified elector is registered to vote in an election if the
11   voter transmits the electronic voter registration application
12   through the Internet system maintained by the department no
13   later than 11:59 p.m. on the 15th day prior to the election.
14      (h)    Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
15   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
16   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
17      "Application."       The electronic voter registration application
18   developed under subsection (a).
19      "Computer system."       The secure computer system developed and
20   maintained by the department in which a qualified elector may
21   electronically submit voter information through the publicly
22   accessible Internet website of the department.
23      Section 3.      Sections 1327(a)(3), (4), (5) and (6) and (b)(3)
24   and (4), 1328(a)(2), 1401(a)(5), 1402(b)(2), 1406(a), 1501(b)
25   introductory paragraph and (1), 1503 and 1704(a) of Title 25 are
26   amended to read:
27   § 1327.    Preparation and distribution of applications.
28      (a)    Form.--
29             * * *
30             (3)   Any person who assists in the completion of the

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 1    registration application shall sign or, in the case of
 2    registration under section 1325.1 (relating to electronic
 3    voter registration), shall electronically sign the
 4    application and indicate the person's address. In the case of
 5    those registering under sections 1323 (relating to
 6    application with driver's license application) and 1325
 7    (relating to government agencies), the person providing
 8    assistance shall insert the person's initials or employee or
 9    agent identification number on a separate or detachable
10    portion of the application or computer data file.
11        (4)   A voter registration application, except an
12    electronic voter registration application under section
13    1325.1, shall be printed on stock of good quality and shall
14    be of suitable uniform size. [Nothing in this part shall
15    prohibit the design and use of an electronic voter
16    registration application which includes the applicant's
17    digitized or electronic signature.] The registration
18    application, including a registration application under
19    section 1325.1, shall contain the following information;
20    however, the information may be provided on a separate form
21    for voter registration made under section 1323 or 1325:
22              (i)    Notice that a registered elector does not need
23        to reregister unless the registered elector has moved.
24              (ii)    Instructions on how to fill out and submit the
25        application and notification of when the application must
26        be submitted to a voter registration office or, for
27        electronic voter registration under section 1325.1,
28        electronically, in order to be registered for the ensuing
29        election.
30              (iii)   Notice that the applicant must be a citizen of

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 1        the United States for at least one month prior to the
 2        next election and a resident of this Commonwealth and the
 3        election district for at least 30 days and must be at
 4        least 18 years of age by the day of the next ensuing
 5        election and has not been confined in a penal institution
 6        for a conviction of a felony within the last five years.
 7        The notice required in this subparagraph shall be in
 8        print identical to the declaration under subsection (b).
 9             (iv)    Notice that political party enrollment is
10        mandatory to vote in a primary election of a political
11        party.
12             (v)    Notice that the commission will mail by
13        nonforwardable mail to the applicant a voter's
14        identification card upon acceptance of the application
15        and that the applicant should contact the commission if
16        the identification card is not received within 14 days
17        from the date the application is sent to the registration
18        office[.] or submitted electronically to the department
19        under section 1325.1. In the event that the applicant's
20        electronic registration application did not contain a
21        signature, the registration card shall contain a notice
22        that the registered elector must provide a signature the
23        first time the registered elector votes after submission
24        of the electronic voter registration application.
25             (vi)    Notice that registration is not complete until
26        the application is processed and accepted by the
27        commission or, if submitted electronically under section
28        1325.1, processed and accepted by the department.
29             (vii)    A warning to the applicant that making a false
30        registration or furnishing false information is perjury.

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 1        The notice required in this subparagraph shall be in
 2        print identical to the declaration under subsection (b).
 3              (viii)   Instructions to Federal or State employees
 4        who wish to retain voting residence in county of last
 5        residence to so indicate on the application.
 6              (ix)   Notice that, if an individual declines to
 7        register to vote, the fact that the individual has
 8        declined to register will remain confidential and will be
 9        used only for voter registration purposes. The notice
10        required in this subparagraph shall be in print identical
11        to the declaration under subsection (b).
12              (x)    Notice that, if an individual does register to
13        vote, the office at which the individual submits a voter
14        registration application will remain confidential and
15        will be used for voter registration purposes only. The
16        notices required in this subparagraph shall be in print
17        identical to the declaration in subsection (b).
18        (5)   In jurisdictions where there is a single language
19    minority, the [secretary] department may print a bilingual
20    application and develop a bilingual electronic voter
21    registration application.
22        (6)   In jurisdictions where a single language minority
23    exceeds 5% of the population, in accordance with applicable
24    law, the [secretary] department shall:
25              (i)    print a bilingual application and develop a
26        bilingual electronic voter registration application; and
27              (ii)   conduct a public educational program among that
28        language group alerting both organizations and
29        individuals of that group of the availability of the
30        bilingual application and encouraging individuals to

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 1          register.
 2          * * *
 3    (b)   Registration declaration.--
 4          * * *
 5          (3)   The registration declaration shall contain the
 6    printed name [and signature of the applicant and the date of
 7    signing.], date of signing and, except for an applicant
 8    submitting a registration under section 1325.1, the signature
 9    of the applicant. An applicant unable to sign the voter
10    registration application shall make a mark before a person of
11    the applicant's choice other than the applicant's employer or
12    an agent of the applicant's union. The person shall insert
13    the person's name, address and telephone number. If the
14    person is an employee or agent of the Department of
15    Transportation or another agency as provided under section
16    1325 and is assisting the applicant in an official capacity,
17    the employee or agent shall insert the initials and
18    identification number of the employee or agent. In the case
19    of applicants registering under section 1323 or 1325, the
20    person providing assistance shall insert initials or employee
21    or agent identification number on a separate or detachable
22    portion of the application or computer data file.
23          (4)   The official registration application shall contain
24    a notice entitled "PENALTY FOR FALSIFYING DECLARATION." The
25    notice shall advise the applicant that if a person signs an
26    official registration application or submits an electronic
27    registration application or a change to registration form
28    under section 1325.1, knowing a statement declared in the
29    application to be false, the person commits perjury. The
30    notice shall specify the penalty for perjury.

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 1      * * *
 2   § 1328.    Approval of registration applications.
 3      (a)    Examination.--Upon receiving a voter registration
 4   application, a commissioner, clerk or registrar of a commission
 5   shall do all of the following:
 6             * * *
 7             (2)   Examine the application to determine all of the
 8      following:
 9                   (i)    Whether the application is complete. The lack of
10             an applicant's signature on an application submitted
11             under section 1325.1 (relating to electronic voter
12             registration) shall not be grounds for rejecting an
13             otherwise valid application.
14                   (ii)    Whether the applicant is a qualified elector.
15                   (iii)   Whether the applicant has an existing
16             registration record. After the commission is connected to
17             the SURE system, the commissioner, clerk or registrar
18             shall search the SURE system on a Statewide basis to
19             determine if the applicant has an existing registration
20             record.
21                   (iv)    Whether the applicant is entitled or qualified
22             to receive the requested transfer or change, if
23             applicable.
24      * * *
25   § 1401.    General register.
26      (a)    General rule.--The general register shall contain all of
27   the following for each registered elector of the county:
28             * * *
29             (5)   The digitized or electronic signature of the
30      registered elector. In the case of a qualified elector

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 1      permitted to submit a signature the first time that the
 2      qualified elector votes after submitting an electronic voter
 3      registration application under section 1325.1 (relating to
 4      electronic voter registration), the commission shall enter
 5      the qualified elector's signature on the qualified elector's
 6      registration record as soon as practicable after the
 7      election. The qualified elector shall not be subject to the
 8      provisions of section 1210(a.3)(2) of the act of June 3, 1937
 9      (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code,
10      until the qualified elector's signature has been entered on
11      the qualified elector's registration record.
12             * * *
13   § 1402.    District registers.
14      * * *
15      (b)    Computer lists.--
16             * * *
17             (2)   After a commission is connected to the SURE system,
18      each commission shall create from its general register a
19      computer list to be used as the district register. For each
20      election district, the list shall contain the names of the
21      registered electors of the election district, alphabetically
22      by last name of each registered elector. Each page of the
23      list shall contain the name of the county, the election
24      district, the date of the election and the date and time the
25      list was prepared. The computer list shall be in a form
26      prescribed by the secretary and must contain necessary
27      information that would otherwise be available in the general
28      register, including, except for a qualified elector permitted
29      to submit a signature at the polling place the first time
30      that the qualified elector votes after submitting an

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 1      electronic voter registration application under section
 2      1325.1 (relating to electronic voter registration), a legible
 3      digitized or electronic signature, the street address and
 4      political party of each registered elector, and suitable
 5      space for insertion of the signature of the registered
 6      elector and for insertion by the proper election official of
 7      the number and letter of the stub of the ballot issued to the
 8      registered elector or the registered elector's number in the
 9      order of admission to the voting systems and the initials of
10      the election official who enters the record of voting in the
11      district register and whether the elector needs assistance to
12      vote and, if so, the nature of the disability. The district
13      register shall be kept at the office of the commission and
14      shall be open to public inspection, subject to reasonable
15      safeguards, rules and regulations.
16             * * *
17   § 1406.    Reports.
18      (a)    Commission.--By March 1, a commission shall submit to
19   the secretary an annual report setting forth the number of
20   electors registered under sections 1322 (relating to in-person
21   voter registration), 1323 (relating to application with driver's
22   license application), 1324 (relating to application by mail)
23   [and], 1325 (relating to government agencies) and 1325.1
24   (relating to electronic voter registration). The report shall
25   specify the number of electors whose registration has been
26   canceled under Chapter 15 (relating to changes in records) and
27   any other information required by the secretary.
28      * * *
29   § 1501.    Removal notices.
30      * * *

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 1      (b)    Use.--A registered elector who removes residence from
 2   one place to another within the same county must notify the
 3   commission by filing a removal notice under subsection (a) or a
 4   signed request for [renewal] removal that contains the
 5   information required in subsection (a) with the commission not
 6   later than the registration deadline before an election. If
 7   mailed, the notice or request must be postmarked not later than
 8   the deadline for registration or, in the case of an illegible or
 9   missing postmark, received within five days of the close of
10   registration. The following apply:
11             (1)   An official registration application of an elector
12      who has registered by mail or electronic voter registration
13      application under section 1325.1 (relating to electronic
14      voter registration) qualifies as a removal notice.
15             * * *
16   § 1503.    Change of enrollment of political party.
17      By the deadline for registration, a registered elector who
18   desires to change the enrollment of political designation or
19   who, although registered, has not previously enrolled as a
20   member of a party may appear before a commissioner, registrar or
21   clerk or may submit an application by mail under section 1324
22   (relating to application by mail) [and state in a signed] or
23   electronically under section 1325.1(f) (relating to electronic
24   voter registration). In a case other than submission under
25   section 1325.1(f), the registered elector shall state in a
26   signed writing the political party in which the registered
27   elector desires to be enrolled. If the signature of the elector
28   is verified by comparison with the registered elector's
29   signature as it appears on file with the commission, the
30   commissioner, registrar or clerk shall make the change in its

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 1   registration records. [If] In a case other than submission under
 2   section 1325.1(f), if supported by other evidence of identity, a
 3   mark may be made in lieu of a signature by a registered elector
 4   who is unable to write. The mark must be made in the presence of
 5   a witness who must sign the registration application. For
 6   submissions under section 1325.1(f), the registered elector
 7   shall follow the procedure for verification of the registered
 8   elector's identity specified in section 1325.1.
 9   § 1704.    Altering registration.
10      (a)    Prohibition.--No registrar, commissioner, clerk or
11   assistant [or], commission employee or other individual may do
12   any of the following:
13             (1)   Intentionally insert or permit to be inserted an
14      entry in a registration record without a proper application
15      under this part or without requiring the proper evidence of
16      the right of the applicant to be registered.
17             (2)   Intentionally materially alter a registration record
18      after the entries have been made unless the alteration is in
19      accordance with this part. This paragraph does not apply to
20      an alteration pursuant to an order of a court of common pleas
21      or of a commission.
22             (3)   Intentionally submit false information regarding a
23      change of party enrollment or name or address on a
24      registration record of another individual.
25      * * *
26      Section 4.     This act shall take effect immediately.




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