Pennsylvania HB 1278: 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 affidavits of candidates; in nomination of candidates, further providing for affidavits of candidates, for statement of candidates for delegates to national conventions, for Secretary of the Commonwealth to furnish county boards with list of candidates and candidates to be notified, for nominations by political bodies, for examination of nomination petitions, certificates and papers and return of rejected nomination petitions, certificates and papers and for affidavits of candidates; and, in penalties, further providing for false affidavits of candidates and for false signatures and statements in nomination petitions and papers.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1433
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1278
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY DAVIDSON, SANCHEZ, HANBIDGE, McNEILL, GIRAL,
DONAHUE, K.HARRIS, NEILSON, BURGOS, SOLOMON, HOHENSTEIN,
CEPEDA-FREYTIZ AND DOUGHERTY, APRIL 22, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, APRIL 22, 2025
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 affidavits of candidates; in
nomination of candidates, further providing for affidavits of
candidates, for statement of candidates for delegates to
national conventions, for Secretary of the Commonwealth to
furnish county boards with list of candidates and candidates
to be notified, for nominations by political bodies, for
examination of nomination petitions, certificates and papers
and return of rejected nomination petitions, certificates and
papers and for affidavits of candidates; and, in penalties,
further providing for false affidavits of candidates and for
false signatures and statements in nomination petitions and
papers.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 630.1, 910, 911, 916, 951(e), 976,
981.1, 1802.1 and 1813 of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333,
No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, are amended to
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read:
Section 630.1. [Affidavits] Statement of Candidates.--Each
candidate for any State, county, city, borough, incorporated
town, township, school district or poor district office, or for
the office of United States Senator or Representative in
Congress, selected as provided in section 630 of this act, shall
file with the nomination certificate [an affidavit] a statement,
subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 (relating to
unsworn falsification to authorities), stating--(a) his
residence, with street and number, if any, and his post-office
address; (b) his election district, giving city, borough, town
or township; (c) the name of the office for which he consents to
be a candidate; (d) that he is eligible for such office; (e)
that he will not knowingly violate any provision of this act, or
of any law regulating and limiting election expenses and
prohibiting corrupt practices in connection therewith; (f)
unless he is a candidate for judge of a court of common pleas,
the Philadelphia Municipal Court or for the office of school
board in a district where that office is elective or for the
office of justice of the peace, that he is not a candidate for
the same office of any party or political body other than the
one designated in such certificate; (g) that he is aware of the
provisions of section 1626 of this act requiring election and
post-election reporting of campaign contributions and
expenditures; and (h) that he is not a candidate for an office
which he already holds, the term of which is not set to expire
in the same year as the office subject to the [affidavit]
statement.
Section 910. [Affidavits] Statement of Candidates.--Each
candidate for any State, county, city, borough, incorporated
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town, township, ward, school district, poor district, election
district, party office, party delegate or alternate, or for the
office of United States Senator or Representative in Congress,
shall file with his nomination petition his [affidavit]
statement, subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904
(relating to unsworn falsification to authorities), stating--(a)
his residence, with street and number, if any, and his post-
office address; (b) his election district, giving city, borough,
town or township; (c) the name of the office for which he
consents to be a candidate; (d) that he is eligible for such
office; (e) that he will not knowingly violate any provision of
this act, or of any law regulating and limiting nomination and
election expenses and prohibiting corrupt practices in
connection therewith; (f) unless he is a candidate for judge of
a court of common pleas, the Philadelphia Municipal Court or for
the office of school director in a district where that office is
elective or for the office of justice of the peace that he is
not a candidate for nomination for the same office of any party
other than the one designated in such petition; (g) if he is a
candidate for a