HB 976 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.

This bill modifies Pennsylvania's Election Code to clarify rules for primary elections, specifically regarding who can vote and how unaffiliated voters participate. It establishes that only voters registered with a political party can normally vote in that party's primary or hold party offices, while also creating a new process for unenrolled electors to temporarily join a party to cast a single primary ballot. The legislation defines "unenrolled electors," outlines procedures for them to select a party at the polls, and updates requirements for absentee and mail-in voting applications. Additionally, it clarifies how election returns are computed and certified by county boards and adjusts penalties for election officers who improperly deny a voter access to their preferred party's primary.
Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2023
Committee Review
Apr 2023
House Passage
Oct 2024
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 24, 2023 Last action Oct 21, 2024
Floor votes · House Oct 21, 2024

How they voted

9683
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 180
Oct 21, 2024
D Democratic89
89 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican91
7 Yea 83 Nay 1
91% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
2
Committee
1
Amendments
2
Oct 21, 2024
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (96-83-1)
house
Oct 21, 2024
Introduced
Amended, bill gone over
lower
Oct 17, 2023
Lower · Passed
Reported as amended
lower
Apr 24, 2023
Committee
Referred to State Government
lower
1 primary · 13 co-sponsors

Sponsors