1Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled
2"An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,
3special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,
4primary and election expenses and election contests; creating
5and defining membership of county boards of elections;
6imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
7courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;
8imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,
9revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
10repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to
11elections," in district election officers, further providing
12for appointment of watchers.

13The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
14hereby enacts as follows:

15Section 1. Section 417(b) of the act of June 3, 1937
16(P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code,
17amended October 8, 2004 (P.L.807, No.97), is amended to read:

18Section 417. Appointment of Watchers.--

19* * *

20(b) Each watcher so appointed must be a qualified registered
21elector of [the county in which the election district for which
22the watcher was appointed is located] this Commonwealth. Each
23watcher so appointed shall be authorized to serve in the

1election district for which the watcher was appointed and, when
2the watcher is not serving in the election district for which
3the watcher was appointed, in any other election district [in
4the county in which the watcher is a qualified registered
5elector] located in the same county as the election district to
6which the watcher is appointed: Provided, That only one watcher
7for each candidate at primaries, or for each party or political
8body at general, municipal or special elections, shall be
9present in the polling place at any one time from the time that
10the election officers meet prior to the opening of the polls
11under section 1208 until the time that the counting of votes is
12complete and the district register and voting check list is
13locked and sealed, and all watchers in the room shall remain
14outside the enclosed space. It shall not be a requirement that a
15watcher be a resident of the election district for which the
16watcher is appointed. After the close of the polls and while the
17ballots are being counted or voting machine canvassed, all the
18watchers shall be permitted to be in the polling place outside
19the enclosed space. Each watcher shall be provided with a
20certificate from the county board of elections, stating his name
21and the name of the candidate, party or political body he
22represents. Watchers shall be required to show their
23certificates when requested to do so. Watchers allowed in the
24polling place under the provisions of this act, shall be
25permitted to keep a list of voters and shall be entitled to
26challenge any person making application to vote and to require
27proof of his qualifications, as provided by this act. During
28those intervals when voters are not present in the polling place
29either voting or waiting to vote, the judge of elections shall
30permit watchers, upon request, to inspect the voting check list

1and either of the two numbered lists of voters maintained by the
2county board: Provided, That the watcher shall not mark upon or
3alter these official election records. The judge of elections
4shall supervise or delegate the inspection of any requested
5documents.

6* * *

7Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.