Pennsylvania House Bill 476 Establishes Random Selection System for Filling Election Clerk Vacancies

Original title: An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in district election officers, providing for master list of prospective clerks of election and for clerk of election vacancies and further providing for vacancies in election boards, appointment, judge and majority inspector to be members of majority party and minority inspector to be member of minority party.

Last action · February 4, 2025: Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT, Feb. 4, 2025Sponsors: Joe Webster and 7 others

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What This Bill Would Do

County election boards must annually compile public master lists of prospective election clerks from registered voters and fill clerk vacancies through random selection under House Bill 476. The measure sets specific exemption criteria including active military duty, recent prior service, undue hardship, age 75 or older, and breastfeeding. The act takes effect in 60 days.

Why it matters

Registered voters face mandatory consideration for poll-worker service through a random selection process when county election boards face shortages, with defined legal exemptions for specific groups.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

qualified registered electors

Qualified registered electors are subject to potential random selection and mandatory obligation to serve as election clerks, with specific statutory exemptions.

Directly affected

county election boards

County election boards must prepare annual master lists of prospective clerks, maintain public inspection records, and conduct random selections when vacancies occur.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are election clerk vacancies filled under this bill?

Vacancies are filled by a selection at random from a cross section of s of the county using an annual master list.

Who is exempt from being randomly selected to serve as an election clerk?

Exemptions apply to active-duty military personnel, individuals who served as a randomly selected clerk earlier in the same election cycle, persons facing undue hardship or extreme inconvenience, individuals 75 years of age or older who request exemption, and breastfeeding women who request exemption.

Will the master list of prospective clerks be available to the public?

Yes, the master list prepared by each county election board must be open to the public for inspection.

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

1 action

Feb 4, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT, Feb. 4, 2025

Version history

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