Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends the Pennsylvania Election Code and outlines the process for appeals to the court during all types of elections and outlines the responsibilities of county boards.

Highlights:

• Establishes the state court on an appeal must proceed without delay to hear the appeal, give the appeal precedence over other business before it and shall determine the appeal as fast as possible but no later than 7 days after the date the appeal was filed (Sec. 1C). 

• Specifies the Secretary of Commonwealth upon receiving the certified returns of any general, municipal, or special election from other county boards shall proceed to tabulate, compute, canvass and all questions voted for by the electors of the State (Sec. 2B). 

• Specifies the Secretary of Commonwealth file the tabulation no later than the fifth Tuesday after election day (Sec. 2B). 

• Specifies that when the Secretary of Commonwealth speculates the tabulation will not be certified within the timeline the Secretary of Commonwealth must provide a notice to the following (Sec. 2C):

• The President of the Senate;

• The chairperson and minority chairperson of the State Government Committee of Senate;

• The chairperson and minority chairperson of the State Government Committee of the House of Representatives; 

• Specifies this notice shall include detailed information regarding the concerns and potential obstacles to a timely certification (Sec. 2C). 

• Restructures the phrase “without unnecessary delay” to as fast as possible but no later than 7 days after the petitions filing (Sec. 1732). 

• Establishes aggrieved parties by the judges decision under this section may appeal the decision to the Supreme Court within one day after the decision (Sec. 1733). 

• Specifies the Supreme Court has no later than seven days to return the determination of the appeal back to the aggrieved party (Sec. 1733).

Full Bill Text