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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 16, 2023 12:05 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Doug Mastriano |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Poll Watcher Protection Act |
| Soon, I will reintroduce legislation to create flexibility for poll watchers and allow them to perform their duties on Election Day. Poll watchers safeguard Pennsylvania’s elections and help ensure that election law is strictly adhered to. Under this bill, all registered voters of Pennsylvania will be eligible to be a poll watcher in any precinct in the state of Pennsylvania. These watchers will not be required to be a resident of the county, municipality, or precinct in which they are appointed. Candidates for office will be able to appoint two poll watchers per precinct. Additionally, each political party will have the opportunity to appoint three watchers per precinct. My bill will also levy penalties on any election officials who block, impede, or otherwise intimidate a poll watcher while performing in his or her official duties on Election Day. Finally, this legislation will ensure that individuals are allowed to watch the pre-canvassing of ballots and permitted to have a clear line of sight to view and hear the proceedings at a distance of six feet or less. Last session, this legislation passed the Senate and House but was vetoed by Governor Wolf for political reasons. Please consider co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation. |
Introduced as SB516