HR 384 — A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study regarding the feasibility of implementing both a Statewide ballot rotation system and a precinct ballot rotation system for the order of listing candidates on ballots in primary and general elections and for each type of office and to issue a report.

PRINTER'S NO.    2742

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 384
                                              Session of
                                                2026

     INTRODUCED BY SOLOMON, MAKO, GILLEN, RABB, GAYDOS, SHUSTERMAN,
        COOPER, GALLAGHER, VENKAT AND WAXMAN, JANUARY 8, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 8, 2026


                               A RESOLUTION
 1   Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
 2      study regarding the feasibility of implementing both a
 3      Statewide ballot rotation system and a precinct ballot
 4      rotation system for the order of listing candidates on
 5      ballots in primary and general elections and for each type of
 6      office and to issue a report.
 7      WHEREAS, Research and experience in election administration
 8   indicate that the order in which candidates are listed on
 9   ballots can confer measurable advantages that are unrelated to
10   candidate quality or voter preference, sometimes referred to as
11   "ballot order effects"; and
12      WHEREAS, Rotational systems are used in various jurisdictions
13   to reduce or eliminate such effects by systematically varying
14   candidate order; and
15      WHEREAS, Any changes to ballot order practices in this
16   Commonwealth must be consistent with the requirements of the
17   Constitution of Pennsylvania concerning elections, including
18   uniformity of election and registration laws, and with the
19   Pennsylvania Election Code, including its provisions governing
20   ballot layout and the casting of lots or other processes
 1   determining candidate order; therefore be it
 2      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
 3   State Government Commission to conduct a comprehensive study
 4   regarding the feasibility of implementing both a Statewide
 5   ballot rotation system and a precinct ballot rotation system for
 6   the order of listing candidates on the ballot in both primary
 7   and general elections and for each type of office; and be it
 8   further
 9      RESOLVED, That in performing the study, the Joint State
10   Government Commission:
11             (1)   Review current Pennsylvania law and practice
12      governing candidate order on ballots and ballot labels,
13      including provisions assigning the Secretary of the
14      Commonwealth and county boards responsibilities for setting
15      order, and the use of lots or other processes for
16      establishing the order.
17             (2)   Examine approaches for rotation by county, district,
18      municipality, ward, division or precinct, including:
19                   (i)    full rotation across the relevant jurisdiction;
20                   (ii)    rotation within batches of precincts; and
21                   (iii)    hybrid approaches that combine Statewide rules
22             with local rotation sequences.
23             (3)   Address rotation methods for multicounty contests
24      and single-county contests, considering how rotation
25      sequences would be generated, synchronized and audited.
26             (4)   Evaluate operational impacts on county election
27      offices and vendors, including ballot programming, proofing,
28      printing, logic and accuracy testing, pollbook/ballot style
29      management, reconciliation and risk-limiting audits.
30             (5)   Evaluate costs, staffing, timelines and procurement

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 1      considerations, including voting system capabilities for on-
 2      premise and central printing, electronic ballot delivery for
 3      Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act voters
 4      and accessible ballot formats.
 5          (6)     Consider statutory and constitutional constraints
 6      and identify any changes necessary to implement rotation
 7      while maintaining uniformity of election laws across this
 8      Commonwealth.
 9          (7)     Assess data and evidence on ballot order effects and
10      the degree to which each rotation approach could reduce or
11      eliminate statistical advantage based on position.
12          (8)     Identify technology standards, security controls and
13      quality assurance processes needed to ensure accurate
14      rotation across all ballot styles, languages and accessible
15      formats.
16          (9)     Consult with stakeholders, including the Department
17      of State, county boards of elections, voting system vendors,
18      disability rights advocates and academic experts in election
19      administration and statistics.
20          (10)     Propose implementation timelines, including pilot
21      options, phased rollouts and Statewide deployment strategies;
22   and be it further
23      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission receive
24   the assistance and cooperation of Commonwealth agencies and
25   political subdivisions, as needed, to carry out its study; and
26   be it further
27      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission issue a
28   report that:
29          (1)     Compares Statewide ballot rotation and precinct
30      ballot rotation models and analyze any similar alternative

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 1      methods of varying candidate order that may achieve
 2      equivalent outcomes.
 3          (2)     Includes model procedures for conducting lots or
 4      other randomization processes for candidate order and, where
 5      relevant, for rotating order across counties in multicounty
 6      contests.
 7          (3)     Provides draft statutory or regulatory language
 8      necessary to implement each recommended option.
 9          (4)     Provides cost estimates and fiscal impacts for the
10      Commonwealth and political subdivisions.
11          (5)     Includes recommendations for the implementation of a
12      Statewide ballot rotation system and a precinct ballot
13      rotation system or for any similar alternative method of
14      varying candidate order designed to reduce or eliminate
15      statistical advantages based on ballot order;
16   and be it further
17      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission submit
18   its report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to
19   members of the State Government Committee of the House of
20   Representatives within one year after the adoption of this
21   resolution.




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