Pennsylvania HB 2262: An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in dates of elections and primaries and special elections, further providing for special elections for United States Senator and nominations and for nominations for special election for Representative in Congress, Senator and Representative in the General Assembly and member of council or legislative body of cities, boroughs, towns and townships; and, in nominations of candidates, further providing for number of signers required for nomination petitions of candidates at primaries, for nominations by minor political parties, for place and time of filing nomination petitions and filing fees and for nominations by political bodies, repealing provisions relating to filing fee and further providing for examination of nomination petitions, certificates and papers and return of rejected nomination petitions, certificates and papers and for vacancy in party nomination by failure to pay filing fee or for failure to file loyalty oath.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2960
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2262
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY WAXMAN, DONAHUE, PIELLI AND RIVERA, MARCH 3, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 5, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled
"An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,
special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,
primary and election expenses and election contests; creating
and defining membership of county boards of elections;
imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;
imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,
revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to
elections," in dates of elections and primaries and special
elections, further providing for special elections for United
States Senator and nominations and for nominations for
special election for Representative in Congress, Senator and
Representative in the General Assembly and member of council
or legislative body of cities, boroughs, towns and townships;
and, in nominations of candidates, further providing for
number of signers required for nomination petitions of
candidates at primaries, for nominations by minor political
parties, for place and time of filing nomination petitions
and filing fees and for nominations by political bodies,
repealing provisions relating to filing fee and further
providing for examination of nomination petitions,
certificates and papers and return of rejected nomination
petitions, certificates and papers and for vacancy in party
nomination by failure to pay filing fee or for failure to
file loyalty oath.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 626, 629, 912.1, 912.2(a), 913 heading,
(b.1), (b.2) and (c) and 951(b) of the act of June 3, 1937
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(P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, are
amended to read:
Section 626. Special Elections for United States Senator;
Nominations.--Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the office of
United States Senator, said vacancy shall be filled for the
unexpired term by the vote of the electors of the State at a
special election to be held at the time of the next general or
municipal election, occurring at least ninety (90) days after
the happening of such vacancy, and it shall be the duty of the
Governor to issue writs of election to the various county boards
of elections and to the Secretary of the Commonwealth within ten
(10) days after the happening of said vacancy. Candidates to
fill vacancies in the office of United States Senator shall be
nominated by political parties, in accordance with the party
rules relating to the filling of vacancies, by means of
nomination certificates, in the form prescribed in section 630
of this act; and by political bodies, by means of nomination
papers, in accordance with the provisions of sections [951, 952
and 954] 951 and 952 of this act. Said nomination certificates
and nomination papers shall be filed in the office of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth at least sixty (60) days prior to
the date of said special election. Until such time as said
vacancy shall be filled by an election as herein provided, the
Governor of the Commonwealth may make a temporary appointment to
fill said vacancy.
Section 629. Nominations for Special Election for
Representative in Congress, Senator and Representative in the
General Assembly and Member of Council or Legislative Body of
Cities, Boroughs, Towns and Townships.--Candidates to fill
vacancies in the offices of Representative in Congress, Senator
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and Representative in the General Assembly and member of the
council or legislative body of any city, borough, town or
township shall be nominated by political parties, in accordance
with the party rules relating to the filling of vacancies, by
means of nomination certificates, in the form prescribed in
section 630 of this act; and by political bodies, by means of
nomination papers, in accordance with the provisions of sections
[951, 952 and 954] 951 and 952 of this act. Said nomination
certificates and nomination papers for the office of
Representative in Congress, Senator and Representative in the
General Assembly shall be filed in the office of the Secretary
of the Commonwealth not later than fifty (50) days prior to the
date of the special election, and for the office of member of
the council or legislative body of a city, borough, town or
township, in the office of the county board of elections wherein
such city, borough, town or township is situate, not later than
fifteen (15) days after the issuance of the writ of election.
Section 912.1. Number of Signers Required for