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Expanding Early Voting and Ballot Drop-Boxes

This bill introduces several significant changes to Pennsylvania's election laws. Here's a comprehensive summary: This bill provides for comprehensive election law reforms, including establishing ballot drop boxes, implementing in-person early voting, enhancing electronic poll book usage, and modifying various voter registration and voting procedures. Key provisions include creating a standardized ballot drop box system with specific security and operational requirements, allowing in-person early voting for 11 days before an election, establishing electronic poll book standards, and creating a bonding mechanism to help counties fund electronic poll book and election infrastructure equipment. The bill also modifies absentee and mail-in ballot procedures, including providing prepaid postage for ballot envelopes, expanding options for ballot return, and creating a post-election ballot audit process. Additionally, the bill updates voter registration processes, including allowing 16-year-olds to preregister and removing certain restrictions on voter eligibility. The changes aim to modernize election administration, improve voter accessibility, and enhance election security and transparency. Most provisions will take effect either immediately or on January 1, 2026, with the remaining provisions taking effect on January 1, 2027.1