HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Senate today passed House Bill 1300, a comprehensive voter rights bill that makes significant updates to Pennsylvania’s election system, according to Senator David G. Argall (R-Schuylkill/Berks), who served as the floor leader for the bill.
“This bill was the product of 13 bipartisan hearings in both the House and the Senate with state and local elections officials from Pennsylvania and other states, red and blue, across the country,” said Argall. “As the chair of the Senate State Government Committee, my goal is to begin to restore the faith of all Pennsylvanians in our elections. This legislation is a major step toward that goal.”
“House Bill 1300 transforms our election system for the better and makes it easier to vote and harder to cheat in Pennsylvania.”
The bill protects voting access by:
- Allowing voters with disabilities to move the front of the line at polling places;
- Providing for and securing election drop boxes; and
- Setting standards for counting all votes
The bill expands election security by:
- Ensuring voter verification through an updated county-provided voter registration card;
- Creating an election fraud hotline;
- Banning private donations to counties for election administration; and
- Doubling penalties for Election Code violations.
The package contains critical reforms requested by counties to help elections run more smoothly. This includes changing voter registration and mail-in ballot deadlines, as well as giving counties more time before Election Day to count mail-in votes.
This bill now heads to the Governor’s desk for his approval. Watch remarks Senator Argall made on the floor of the Senate in support of this bill here and here.
Contact: Jim Brugger 717.787.2637