Pennsylvania SB 488: An Act amending Title 25 (Elections) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in preliminary provisions relating to voter registration, further providing for definitions; in registration system, further providing for SURE system; in voter registration, further providing for qualifications to register and for government agencies, providing for preregistration data entry and further providing for preparation and distribution of applications; and, in changes in records, further providing for death of registrant.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 460
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 488
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY COLLETT, STREET, SAVAL, COMITTA, KEARNEY, HAYWOOD,
KANE, COSTA, SANTARSIERO AND MUTH, MARCH 21, 2025
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 21, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 25 (Elections) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in preliminary provisions relating to voter
registration, further providing for definitions; in
registration system, further providing for SURE system; in
voter registration, further providing for qualifications to
register and for government agencies, providing for
preregistration data entry and further providing for
preparation and distribution of applications; and, in changes
in records, further providing for death of registrant.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1102 of Title 25 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding definitions to read:
§ 1102. Definitions.
Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent
provisions of this part which are applicable to specific
provisions of this part, the following words and phrases when
used in this part shall have the meanings given to them in this
section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Preregistrant." A person who is at least 16 years of age,
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but not yet 18 years of age, who is otherwise eligible to
register to vote in accordance with this part.
"Preregistration." A process in which a preregistrant
submits the information necessary for voter registration and
inclusion into the SURE system in accordance with this part
prior to the time at which the preregistrant is eligible to
actively register to vote under section 1301 (relating to
qualifications to register).
* * *
Section 2. Section 1222(c) of Title 25 is amended by adding
paragraphs to read:
§ 1222. SURE system.
* * *
(c) Requirements.--The SURE system shall be developed as a
single, uniform integrated computer system. All commissions
shall be connected electronically to the SURE system and shall
maintain their registration records in the system. The SURE
system shall, at a minimum, do all of the following:
* * *
(22) Contain a code to enable identification and
tracking of preregistration status.
(23) Automatically activate the registration of a
preregistrant no later than the preregistrant's 18th
birthday.
* * *
Section 3. Section 1301(a) of Title 25 is amended and the
section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
§ 1301. Qualifications to register.
(a) Eligibility.--[An] Except as provided in subsection
(a.1), an individual [who] shall be eligible to register to vote
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if the individual:
(1) will be at least 18 years of age on the day of the
next election[, who];
(2) has been a citizen of the United States for at least
one month prior to the next election and [who] has resided in
this Commonwealth and the election district where the
individual offers to vote for at least 30 days prior to the
next ensuing election; and
(3) has not been confined in a penal institution for a
conviction of a felony within the last five years [shall be
eligible to register as provided in this chapter].
(a.1) Preregistration.--Notwithstanding subsection (a)(1), a
preregistrant may preregister to vote, provided that the
preregistrant may not vote in any election before reaching 18
years of age. The department shall provide guidance within 90
days of the effective date of this subsection to assist
commissions in implementing preregistration.
* * *
Section 4. Section 1325(b)(4) of Title 25 is amended to
read:
§ 1325. Government agencies.
* * *
(b) Forms.--An agency designated in subsection (a) shall
provide a form for office visits or, if the agency provides
services to persons with disabilities, for home visits which
contains all of the following:
* * *
(4) The statement "In order to be qualified to register
to vote, you must be at least 18 years of age on the day of
the next election, you must have been a citizen of the United
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States for at least one month prior to the next election and
have resided in Pennsylvania and the election district where
you plan to vote for at least 30 days prior to the next
election, and you must not have been confined in a penal
institution for a conviction of a felony within the last five
years[."]. You may preregister to vote if you are at least 16
years of age, provided you may not vote in an election until
you reach 18 years of age."
* * *
Section 5. Title 25 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 1326.1. Preregistration data entry.
In the case of preregistration, each commission shall enter
preregistration information into the SURE system upon receipt of
the information and ensure tha