Pennsylvania HB 1327: An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in penalties, further providing for the offense of bribery at elections and providing for the offense of payment for registration.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1519
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1327
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY DAVIDSON, KHAN, SCHLOSSBERG, VENKAT, PIELLI,
HANBIDGE, MERSKI, PROBST, MALAGARI, CERRATO, DONAHUE,
FREEMAN, SANCHEZ, SIEGEL, MAYES, OTTEN, BOROWSKI, HADDOCK,
WARREN, RIVERA, K.HARRIS, D. WILLIAMS, BOYD AND CEPEDA-
FREYTIZ, APRIL 28, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, APRIL 28, 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 penalties, further providing for the offense
of bribery at elections and providing for the offense of
payment for registration.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1839 of the act of June 3, 1937
(P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is
amended to read:
Section 1839. Bribery at Elections.--Any person who shall,
directly or indirectly, give or promise or offer to give any
gift or reward in money, goods or other valuable thing to any
person, with intent to induce him to vote or refrain from voting
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[for any particular candidate or candidates or for or against
any constitutional amendment or other question] at any primary
or election; or who shall, directly or indirectly, procure for
or offer or promise to procure for such person any such gift or
reward with the intent aforesaid; or, who with the intent to
influence or intimidate such person to give his vote or to
refrain from giving his vote for any particular candidate or
candidates or for or against any constitutional amendment or
other question at any primary or election, shall give to or
obtain for or assist in obtaining for or offer or promise to
give to or obtain for or assist in obtaining for such person any
office, place, appointment or employment, public or private, or
threaten such person with dismissal or discharge from any
office, place, appointment or employment, public or private,
then held by him, shall be guilty of a felony of the third
degree, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay
a fine not exceeding fifteen thousand ($15,000) dollars, or to
undergo an imprisonment of not more than seven (7) years, or
both, in the discretion of the court. For the purpose of this
section, the term "other valuable thing" includes a chance to
win a lottery or similar prize-drawing contest.
Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 1839.1. Payment for Registration.--A person who
directly or indirectly gives or promises or offers to give a
gift or reward in money, goods or other valuable thing to
another person, with the intent to induce the other person to
register to vote, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first
degree, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay
a fine of not less than ten thousand ($10,000) dollars, or to
undergo imprisonment of not more than five (5) years, or both,
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in the discretion of the court. For the purpose of this section,
the term "other valuable thing" includes a chance to win a
lottery or similar prize-drawing contest.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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