Pennsylvania 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.

Bill Text

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
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.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1321 of Title 25 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a paragraph to read:
§ 1321. Methods of voter registration.
An individual qualified to register to vote under section
1301(a) (relating to qualifications to register) may apply to
register as follows:
* * *
(5) Under section 1325.1 (relating to electronic voter
registration).
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Section 2. Title 25 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 1325.1. Electronic voter registration.
(a) Establishment.-- Within 180 days of the effective date of
this subsection, the department shall implement and administer
an electronic voter registration application on a secure
computer system, maintained by the department, that permits a
qualified elector to electronically submit an application to
register to vote or make changes to an existing voter
registration.
(b) Compliance.--The application must comply with the
requirements under section 1327 (relating to preparation and
distribution of applications ).
(c) Individuals with disabilities.--The department shall
implement methods for individuals with disabilities, including
individuals who are blind or visually impaired, to submit
information through the computer system established under
subsection (a).
(d) Submittal.--
(1) A qualified elector who applies to register to vote
under this section shall do all of the following:
(i) Enter the data required on the application.
(ii) Provide one of the following:
(A) The last four digits of the qualified
elector's Social Security number.
(B) The qualified elector's driver's license
number or identification card number issued by the
Department of Transportation under 75 Pa.C.S. §
1510(b) (relating to issuance and content of driver's
license).
(C) If the qualified elector does not have the
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information required by clause (A) or (B), any other
information required by the department to verify the
identity of the qualified elector.
(iii) Affirmatively attest to the truth of the
information provided by the qualified elector.
(2) (i) The department shall obtain an electronic copy
of the qualified elector's signature from the qualified
elector's driver's license or identification card issued
by the Department of Transportation under 75 Pa.C.S. §
1510(b).
(ii) The department may develop other means of
obtaining an electronic signature from a qualified
elector, including obtaining a copy of a signature on
file with another Commonwealth agency, if the signature
is capable of being transmitted to the department in a
secure fashion.
(3) Notwithstanding the department's ability to obtain
an electronic copy of a qualified elector's signature under
paragraph (2), the department shall transfer the application
to the SURE system for examination and processing by the
appropriate commission in accordance with section 1328
(relating to approval of registration applications). If the
department is not able to obtain an electronic copy of the
qualified elector 's signature, the department shall include a
notation that the qualified elector must provide a signature
at the polling place or, if the qualified elector votes by
absentee ballot, on the absentee ballot application the first
time the qualified elector votes after submitting an
application.
(4) (i) Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to
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prevent a qualified elector from printing a completed
application, signing the application and mailing the
application or delivering the application in person to
the appropriate commission in accordance with the voter
registration application deadlines specified in
subsection (g ).
(ii) If a qualified elector satisfies the
requirements of subparagraph (i), an additional s