Pennsylvania HB 981: An Act amending Title 25 (Elections) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in preliminary provisions relating to voter registration, further providing for standardized forms and for applications; and, in voter registration, further providing for preparation and distribution of applications and providing for government service facilitation.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1071
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 981
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY GAYDOS, KENYATTA, KUZMA, ZIMMERMAN AND BERNSTINE,
MARCH 20, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY,
MARCH 20, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 25 (Elections) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in preliminary provisions relating to voter
registration, further providing for standardized forms and
for applications; and, in voter registration, further
providing for preparation and distribution of applications
and providing for government service facilitation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 1105(a) and 1106(a) of Title 25 of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
§ 1105. Standardized forms.
(a) General rule.--Whenever possible, the secretary shall
prescribe by regulation standardized voter registration or
absentee ballot application forms which may be used, with prior
approval by the secretary, by political bodies, candidates and
organized bodies of citizens in compliance with both the
provisions of this part and the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333,
No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code. The forms
shall include notice to applicants as required under section
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1327.1(d) (relating to government service facilitation).
* * *
§ 1106. Applications.
[(a) Registration application.--Voter registration
applications printed under the act of June 30, 1995 (P.L.170,
No.25), known as the Pennsylvania Voter Registration Act, may be
used to apply for registration under this part.]
* * *
Section 2. Section 1327(a)(4) of Title 25 is amended by
adding a subparagraph to read:
§ 1327. Preparation and distribution of applications.
(a) Form.--
* * *
(4) A voter registration application shall be printed on
stock of good quality and shall be of suitable uniform size.
Nothing in this part shall prohibit the design and use of an
electronic voter registration application which includes the
applicant's digitized or electronic signature. The
registration application shall contain the following
information; however, the information may be provided on a
separate form for voter registration made under section 1323
or 1325:
* * *
(xi) Notice to applicants as required under section
1327.1(d) (relating to government service facilitation).
* * *
Section 3. Title 25 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 1327.1. Government service facilitation.
(a) Duties of commission.--Notwithstanding any prohibition
found in any other law, regulation or rule, a commission which
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processes a voter registration application shall provide
information as follows:
(1) Within 30 days of receipt, the commission shall
provide, in the manner prescribed by the secretary, the
department with the applicant's full name, address of
residence and, if different from the address of residence,
mailing address. The requirements of this paragraph may be
met, with the approval of the secretary, by current law and
practices concerning transmission of information from a
commission to the department.
(2) Within 30 days of receipt, the commission shall
provide, in the manner prescribed by the secretary, each
political subdivision which contains the applicant's address
of residence with the applicant's full name, address of
residence and, if different from the address of residence,
mailing address.
(b) Duties of department.--Notwithstanding any prohibition
found in any other law, regulation or rule, upon receipt of
information from a commission under subsection (a), the
department shall provide the Department of Revenue, the
Department of Human Services and the Department of
Transportation with the applicant's full name, address of
residence and, if different from the address of residence,
mailing address. The method of providing information shall be
determined by the secretary in conjunction with the Department
of Revenue, the Department of Human Services and the Department
of Transportation, and may include email, facsimile or other
secure method which accomplishes the requirements of this
subsection without undue expense or delay.
(c) Responsibility of recipient agencies.--Any State agency
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or political subdivision which receives information regarding an
applicant under subsection (a) or (b) shall determine if an
applicant meets the residency requirements applicable to the
services provided or duties imposed by that State agency or
political subdivision and shall transmit to the applicant
information concerning the rights and responsibilities of that
applicant which fall within the scope of the authority provided
to the State agency or political subdivision.
(d) Notice on voter registration application.--E