Pennsylvania - Law Across the Pandemic
Voter Registration
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Online, in person, or by mail. | No Changes | HB1300 VETOED by GOVERNOR Introduced comprehensive new language governing voter registration. |
| Deadline | Fifteen (15) days before election. | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Automatic | No | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Same Day | No | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
Absentee Ballot Application
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excuse | Illness, absence, election official, and religious reasons. | No excuse needed by Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision. | HB25 IN HOUSE Pg. 13Seeks to eliminate no-excuse absentee ballots. HB1596 IN HOUSE Requires proof of identification when requesting absentee ballot. |
| Automatic | By request | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Deadline | Seven (7) days before election. | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Valid for X# of Cycles | Same cycle except by request. | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
Absentee Ballot Return (other than by mail)
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voter ID | Signature Verification | Court ordered signature verification be tossed out. | HB1596 IN HOUSE Pg. 103 Requires signature verification for ballot acceptance. |
| In Person | Yes | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Drop Box | Not mentioned in statutes. | Widely available throughout the state. | No Legislative Activity |
| Return Deadline | 8:00 PM on Election Day | Changed to postmark by that time. If there is no postmark, it must be accepted. | No Legislative Activity |
Ballot Harvesting
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prohibited | No | No change | No legislative movement |
| Limited 3rd Party | Authorized representative designated in writing. | No change | No legislative movement |
| Paid Political Operatives | Allowed | No change | No legislative movement |
Early Voting
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| By Mail | Yes | No change | No legislative movement |
| In Person | Yes | No change | No legislative movement |
Voter Identification - Absentee Ballot
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signature Verification | Required | Pennsylvania Supreme Court rules that ballots cannot be tossed out because of voter signature. | HB1596 IN HOUSE Pg. 103 Requires signature verification for ballot acceptance. |
| Witness Statement | No | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Other | - | - | HB1300 Pg. 5 VETOED by GOVERNOR Required driver's license number or social security number with absentee ballots. |
| Cure Process | No cure process | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
Voter Identification - In Person
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo ID | Not required | No Changes | HB1300 Pg. 5 - Line 1 VETOED by GOVERNOR Required photo ID in order to vote. HB1596 IN HOUSE Requires voters to show proof of identification before voting in person. |
| Other Options | - | - | - |
| Provisional Ballots | Not provided | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
Voting Day
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours | 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Those in line at poll close are still allowed to vote. | No change | No legislative movement |
| Wait Time | Not mentioned in statutes | No change | No legislative movement |
| Electioneering | Ten (10) feet | No change | No legislative movement |
| Other | - | - | - |
Voter Rolls
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Update Frequency | Annually | No change | No legislative movement |
| Voter Removal | Dead, moving | No change | No legislative movement |
September 27, 2021
Republicans look to bypass Wolf with latest election reform measure
After failing to earn Gov. Tom Wolf’s signature on a sweeping election law overhaul earlier this year, Republican lawmakers in Harrisburg are trying again, and hoping to cut Wolf out of the process entirely this time around.
The GOP-led House State Government Committee on Monday voted along party lines to advance a wide-ranging set of amendments to the state constitution, including measures that would constitutionally require that voters show ID at the polls and alter how Pennsylvania’s secretary of state is chosen.
Read more on City and State PA
July 6, 2021
AG Shapiro & Gov. Wolf at Odds with Majority of Voters on Ballot Integrity
Read more on Election Transparency Initiative with reference to Franklin & Marshall College Poll, June 2021
Q: Do you favor/strongly favor requiring voters show a photo ID?
- Republicans 95%
- Democrats 47%
- Independents 77%
Q: Do you favor/strongly favor election officials verify signatures on mail-in ballots to signatures in voter registration files?
- Republicans 94%
- Democrats 64%
- Independents 88%
June 30, 2021
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf vetoes GOP election bill that would have required voter ID, other changes
Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor vetoed a Republican-crafted elections bill Wednesday, a proposal that would have mandated voter identification in all elections and made a host of other changes to election law.
Gov. Tom Wolf said outside his Capitol offices that he considers the measure a voter suppression effort.
June 25, 2021
Pennsylvania Senate Passes Constitutional Amendment to Require Voter ID For All Ballots
The Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that would amend the state constitution to require that voters present identification each time they cast a ballot.
The measure, SB735, passed in a 30-20 vote, mostly along partisan lines. The proposal was backed by all Republicans and a single Democrat.
Currently, state voters are only required to present identification the first time they vote at a polling station. The measure would require some form of verification every time a ballot is cast, including when voting by mail. It also proposes amending the voting age in the Pennsylvania Constitution from 21 to 18, making it consistent the U.S. Constitution.
June 23, 2021
ETI Applauds PA Voting Rights Protection Act
Washington, D.C. – Today the Election Transparency Initiative applauded the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for advancing the Voting Rights Protection Act (H.B. 1300), comprehensive election integrity and security legislation introduced by Rep. Seth Grove (R-York). Importantly, this landmark legislation would help bolster fair and transparent elections in Pennsylvania while improving voter access through some commonsense measures.
Read more on Election Transparency Initiative