Pennsylvania HR 384: A Resolution recognizing the Pennsylvania American Legion Auxiliary Keystone Girls State program being held during the week of June 18, 2017.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2742
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 384
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY SOLOMON, MAKO, GILLEN, RABB, GAYDOS, SHUSTERMAN,
COOPER, GALLAGHER, VENKAT AND WAXMAN, JANUARY 8, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 8, 2026
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
study regarding the feasibility of implementing both a
Statewide ballot rotation system and a precinct ballot
rotation system for the order of listing candidates on
ballots in primary and general elections and for each type of
office and to issue a report.
WHEREAS, Research and experience in election administration
indicate that the order in which candidates are listed on
ballots can confer measurable advantages that are unrelated to
candidate quality or voter preference, sometimes referred to as
"ballot order effects"; and
WHEREAS, Rotational systems are used in various jurisdictions
to reduce or eliminate such effects by systematically varying
candidate order; and
WHEREAS, Any changes to ballot order practices in this
Commonwealth must be consistent with the requirements of the
Constitution of Pennsylvania concerning elections, including
uniformity of election and registration laws, and with the
Pennsylvania Election Code, including its provisions governing
ballot layout and the casting of lots or other processes
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determining candidate order; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
State Government Commission to conduct a comprehensive study
regarding the feasibility of implementing both a Statewide
ballot rotation system and a precinct ballot rotation system for
the order of listing candidates on the ballot in both primary
and general elections and for each type of office; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That in performing the study, the Joint State
Government Commission:
(1) Review current Pennsylvania law and practice
governing candidate order on ballots and ballot labels,
including provisions assigning the Secretary of the
Commonwealth and county boards responsibilities for setting
order, and the use of lots or other processes for
establishing the order.
(2) Examine approaches for rotation by county, district,
municipality, ward, division or precinct, including:
(i) full rotation across the relevant jurisdiction;
(ii) rotation within batches of precincts; and
(iii) hybrid approaches that combine Statewide rules
with local rotation sequences.
(3) Address rotation methods for multicounty contests
and single-county contests, considering how rotation
sequences would be generated, synchronized and audited.
(4) Evaluate operational impacts on county election
offices and vendors, including ballot programming, proofing,
printing, logic and accuracy testing, pollbook/ballot style
management, reconciliation and risk-limiting audits.
(5) Evaluate costs, staffing, timelines and procurement
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considerations, including voting system capabilities for on-
premise and central printing, electronic ballot delivery for
Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act voters
and accessible ballot formats.
(6) Consider statutory and constitutional constraints
and identify any changes necessary to implement rotation
while maintaining uniformity of election laws across this
Commonwealth.
(7) Assess data and evidence on ballot order effects and
the degree to which each rotation approach could reduce or
eliminate statistical advantage based on position.
(8) Identify technology standards, security controls and
quality assurance processes needed to ensure accurate
rotation across all ballot styles, languages and accessible
formats.
(9) Consult with stakeholders, including the Department
of State, county boards of elections, voting system vendors,
disability rights advocates and academic experts in election
administration and statistics.
(10) Propose implementation timelines, including pilot
options, phased rollouts and Statewide deployment strategies;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission receive
the assistance and cooperation of Commonwealth agencies and
political subdivisions, as needed, to carry out its study; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission issue a
report that:
(1) Compares Statewide ballot rotation and precinct
ballot rotation models and analyze any similar alternative
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methods of varying candidate order that may achieve
equivalent outcomes.
(2) Includes model procedures for conducting lots or
other randomization processes for candidate order and, where
relevant, for rotating order across counties in multicounty
contests.
(3) Provides draft statutory or regulatory language
necessary to implement each recommended option.
(4