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PA HB978

Bill

Status

Introduced

3/19/2025

Primary Sponsor

Valerie Gaydos

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

2025-2026 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Replaces all references to "justice of the peace" with "magisterial district judge" throughout the Pennsylvania Election Code to reflect current judicial terminology.

  • Removes outdated references to "school director in districts where that office is elective" from multiple sections governing candidate affidavits, nomination petitions, and ballot printing requirements.

  • Authorizes magisterial district judges (in addition to magistrates and aldermen) to administer oaths to election judges before they begin their duties at primaries or elections.

  • Maintains cross-filing exceptions for candidates seeking office as judge of a court of common pleas, Philadelphia Municipal Court, or magisterial district judge, allowing these candidates to appear on multiple party ballots.

  • Takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Legislative Description

In district election officers, further providing for election officers to be sworn; in dates of el ections and primaries and special elections, further providing for affidavits of candidates; in nomination of candidates, further providing for petition may consist of several sheets and statement of circulator, for affidavits of candidates, for examination of nomination petitions, certificates and papers and return of rejected nomination petitions, certificates and papers, for vacancy in party nomination by failure to pay filing fee or for failure to file loyalty oath, for affidavits of candidates, for filling of certain vacancies in public office by means of nomination certificates and nomination papers and for substituted nominations to fill certain vacancies for a November election; in ballots, further providing for form of ballots and printing ballots; in returns of primaries and elections, further providing for manner of computing irregular ballots; and replacing references to "justice of the peace" with "magisterial district judge."

Last Action

Referred to State Government

3/19/2025

Committee Referrals

State Government3/19/2025

Full Bill Text

No bill text available