Pennsylvania SB 1357: An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for peace officers, no police officer to be within one hundred feet of polling place, exceptions and presence of soldiers prohibited; and, in penalties, further providing for police officers at polling places.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1768
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1357
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY SAVAL, L. WILLIAMS, KEARNEY, TARTAGLIONE, HAYWOOD,
COMITTA, FONTANA, CAPPELLETTI AND MUTH, JUNE 4, 2026
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, JUNE 4, 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 preparation for and conduct of primaries and
elections, further providing for peace officers, no police
officer to be within one hundred feet of polling place,
exceptions and presence of soldiers prohibited; and, in
penalties, further providing for police officers at polling
places.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 1207 and 1820 of the act of June 3, 1937
(P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, are
amended to read:
Section 1207. Peace Officers; No Police Officer or Federal
Law Enforcement Official to Be Within One Hundred Feet of
Polling Place; Exceptions; Presence of Soldiers Prohibited.--The
election officers, or any three qualified electors of any
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election district, may call upon any mayor, chief burgess,
sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, deputy constable, or police
officer, to clear an avenue to the door of any polling place
which is obstructed in such a way as to prevent electors from
approaching, or to maintain order and quell any disturbance, if
such arises. No police officer [in commission] or Federal law
enforcement official, whether in uniform or in citizen's
clothes, shall be within one hundred feet of a polling place or
ballot return site during the conduct of any primary or
election, unless in the exercise of his privilege of voting, [or
for the purpose of serving warrants, or unless called upon to
preserve the peace,] as provided by this act: Provided, however,
That such prohibition shall not apply to such police officers
assigned to a police station or headquarters located in a
building or on the premises where the polling place is located
and such police officers must be within one hundred (100) feet
of the polling place to enter and exit such police station or
headquarters: And provided further, That in no event may any
police officer or Federal law enforcement official unlawfully
use or practice any intimidation, threats, force or violence
nor, in any manner, unduly influence or overawe any elector or
prevent him from voting or restrain his freedom of choice, nor
may any such police officer or Federal law enforcement official
electioneer or directly or indirectly attempt to influence the
election or electors while within one hundred (100) feet of a
polling place or ballot return site as herein set forth: And
provided further, That where polling places or ballot return
sites are located in buildings or on premises where a police
station or headquarters are located, the polling place or ballot
return site shall be located in a separate room. No body of
20260SB1357PN1768 - 2 -
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troops in the Army of the United States or of this Commonwealth
shall be present, either armed or unarmed, at any place of
election or ballot return site within this Commonwealth during
the time of any primary or election: Provided, however, That no
officer or soldier shall be prevented from exercising the right
of suffrage in the election district in which he resides, if
otherwise qualified.
Section 1820. Police Officers at Polling Places.--Any police
officer [in commission] or Federal law enforcement official,
whether in uniform or in citizen's clothes, who shall be within
one hundred (100) feet of a polling place or ballot return site
during the conduct of any primary or election, except in the
exercise of his privilege of voting [or for the purpose of
serving warrants], or in accordance with the provisions of the
exception set forth in section 1207 of this act where the police
station or headquarters is located in the same building or on
the premises where the polling place or ballot return site is
located [or unless called upon to preserve the peace], as
provided by this act, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and,
upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine not
exceeding [five hundred ($500)] three thousand ($3,000) dollars,
or to undergo an imprisonment of not more than one (1) year, or
both, in the discretion of the c