Pennsylvania HB 115: An Act providing for ballot access; and imposing duties on the Department of State.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 93
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 115
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY GROVE, JANUARY 14, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 14, 2025
AN ACT
Providing for ballot access; and imposing duties on the
Department of State.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Ballot Access
Improvement Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"County." A county of this Commonwealth.
"County board." A county board of elections in a county.
"Department." The Department of State of the Commonwealth.
"General election." The election that the Constitution of
Pennsylvania requires to be held in even-numbered years.
"Municipal election." The election that the Constitution of
Pennsylvania requires to be held in odd-numbered years.
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"Nomination petition." As described under Article IX of the
act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the
Pennsylvania Election Code.
"Nomination petition filing fee." A filing fee established
under section 5(a) that may be paid in lieu of filing a
nomination petition to appear on a ballot.
"Nomination petition filing fee receipt." A paper or
electronic receipt that provides proof of a successful transfer
of money to satisfy the payment of a nomination petition filing
fee.
"Primary election." An election held for the purpose of
electing party officers and nominating candidates for public
offices to be voted for at a general election or municipal
election.
"Secretary." The Secretary of the Commonwealth.
"Voting district." A geographic area within this
Commonwealth that hosts an election of public officials that
serve at the pleasure of the electorate within the geographic
area.
Section 3. Ballot access.
(a) Requirement.--A candidate for any of the offices or
judgeships specified under subsection (b) who meets the
requirements to be eligible to be placed on the ballot for the
general election must do one of the following:
(1) Submit to the department or, as applicable, the
appropriate county board a nomination petition and
corresponding filing fees in accordance with section 913 of
the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the
Pennsylvania Election Code.
(2) Make a payment in full of a nomination petition
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filing fee to the department or, as applicable, the
appropriate county board.
(b) Applicability.--Subsection (a) applies to a candidate
seeking any of the following:
(1) The office of President of the United States.
(2) The office of delegate or alternate to a national
party convention.
(3) The office of a member of a national or State party
committee.
(4) The office of Senator in the United States Senate.
(5) The office of Representative in the United States
House of Representatives.
(6) A Statewide office.
(7) The office of Senator in the General Assembly.
(8) The office of Representative in the General
Assembly.
(9) A Statewide judgeship.
(10) A court of common pleas judgeship.
(11) The office of magisterial district judge.
(12) A county or municipal office.
Section 4. Municipal filing jurisdiction.
A candidate for an elective office of a city, borough,
incorporated town, township, ward or school district which is
located in two or more counties shall be required to file the
nomination petition or nomination petition filing fee with the
county board of the county in which the majority or a plurality
of the number of the registered electors of the city, borough,
incorporated town, township, ward or school district reside.
Section 5. Nomination petition filing fee.
(a) Amounts.--The amount of the nomination petition filing
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fee shall be as follows:
(1) $38,500 for the following:
(i) The office of President of the United States.
(ii) The office of Senator in the United States
Senate.
(iii) A Statewide office.
(iv) A Statewide judgeship.
(2) $10,000 for the following:
(i) The office of Representative in the United
States House of Representatives.
(ii) The office of delegate or alternate to a
national party convention.
(3) $5,000 for the following:
(i) The office of Senator in the General Assembly.
(ii) The office of a member of a national or State
party committee.
(iii) A court of common pleas judgeship.
(iv) The office of magisterial district judge.
(v) A county or municipal office.
(4) $3,000 for the office of Representative in the
General Assembly.
(b) Disbursement.--The amount of the nomination petition
filing fee shall be disbursed as follows:
(1) From the nomination petition filing fee under
subsection (a)(1):
(i) Each county sh