HB 280 — An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in qualifications of electors, further providing for qualifications of electors at primaries; in party organization, further providing for only enrolled electors to vote at primaries or hold party offices; in nomination of candidates, further providing for candidates to be nominated and party officers to be elected at primaries and providing for procedure for unenrolled electors to cast primary ballots; in preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for manner of applying to vote, persons entitled to vote, voter's certificates, entries to be made in district register, numbered lists of voters and challenges; in voting by qualified absentee electors, further providing for applications for official absentee ballots; in voting by qualified mail-in electors, further providing for applications for official mail-in ballots; in returns of primaries and elections, further providing for computation of returns by county board, certification and issuance of certificates of election; and, in penalties, further providing for election officers refusing to permit elector to vote in proper party at primaries and repealing provisions relating to elector voting ballot of wrong party at primary.

Summary

Open Primaries

Bill Text

• Printer's No. 0223 View text Current

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill allows unenrolled electors to vote in primary elections and defines unenrolled electors in the Pennsylvania Election Code.

• Section 102

  (z.7) The words 'unenrolled elector' shall mean a person who is registered to vote within an election district having selected 'none' or 'no affiliation' or having selected 'other' and written in a clear preference to be unaffiliated or independent in regard to a political party on their Pennsylvania voter registration application.

  Defines 'unenrolled elector', clarifying the status of voters without party affiliation.

• Section 702

  [, provided that no elector who is not registered and enrolled as a member of a political party, in accordance with the provisions of this act, shall be permitted to vote the ballot of such party or any other party ballot at any primary.]

  Removes the restriction preventing unenrolled electors from voting in primary elections.

• Section 802

  [vote at any primary of such party or to]

  Clarifies that only registered and enrolled members of a political party can hold party offices or vote for party office.

• Section 902

  [, except as otherwise provided in this act. In the years when candidates for the office of President of the United States are to be nominated, every registered and enrolled member of a political party shall have the opportunity at the Spring primary in such years to vote his preference for one person to be the candidate of his political party for President.] → In a primary election conducted in this Commonwealth, all unenrolled electors shall have the opportunity to vote in accordance with the procedures provided under section 902.1.

  Allows unenrolled electors the opportunity to vote in primary elections under specified procedures.

• Section 902.1

  Procedure for Unenrolled Electors to Cast Primary Ballots.--Upon confirming an unenrolled elector's status as a registered elector, the elections officer shall ask the unenrolled elector in which political party's primary the unenrolled elector desires to vote...

  Establishes a formal procedure for unenrolled electors to select a party for voting in primaries.

• Section 1210(d)

  [section 1210 of this act] → this section

  Clarifies the section reference in the context of voting challenges.

• Section 1302(b)

  Unenrolled electors who wish to vote in a primary shall specify which political party's ballot they are seeking.

  Requires unenrolled electors to indicate their chosen party when applying for official absentee ballots.

• Section 1302-D(b)

  Unenrolled electors who wish to vote in a primary shall specify which political party's ballot they are seeking.

  Adds a requirement for unenrolled electors to specify their party choice when applying for official mail-in ballots.

Action History

1. October 13, 2026

   Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT, Oct. 13, 2026

2. October 13, 2026

   In the Senate

3. September 29, 2026

   (Remarks see House Journal Page ), Sept. 29, 2026

4. September 29, 2026

   Third consideration and final passage, Sept. 29, 2026 (115-88)

5. September 29, 2026

   Re-reported as committed, Sept. 29, 2026

6. September 28, 2026

   Re-committed to APPROPRIATIONS, Sept. 28, 2026

7. September 28, 2026

   Second consideration, Sept. 28, 2026

8. September 28, 2026

   Removed from table, Sept. 28, 2026

9. May 13, 2025

   Laid on the table, May 13, 2025

10. May 13, 2025

    First consideration, May 13, 2025

11. May 13, 2025

    Reported as committed, May 13, 2025

12. January 22, 2025

    Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT, Jan. 22, 2025

Sponsors

• Jared G. Solomon · Primary
• Malcolm Kenyatta · Cosponsor
• Christopher M. Rabb · Cosponsor
• Tarik Khan · Cosponsor
• Arvind Venkat · Cosponsor
• Chris Pielli · Cosponsor
• Tarah Probst · Cosponsor
• Carol Hill-Evans · Cosponsor
• Nancy Guenst · Cosponsor
• Jim Haddock · Cosponsor
• Michael H. Schlossberg · Cosponsor
• Melissa L. Shusterman · Cosponsor
• Joe Webster · Cosponsor
• Daniel J. Deasy · Cosponsor
• Melissa Cerrato · Cosponsor
• G. Roni Green · Cosponsor
• Jennifer O'Mara · Cosponsor
• Justin C. Fleming · Cosponsor
• Lisa A. Borowski · Cosponsor
• MaryLouise Isaacson · Cosponsor
• Tim Brennan · Cosponsor
• Dan Frankel · Cosponsor
• Christina D. Sappey · Cosponsor
• Andre D. Carroll · Cosponsor
• Greg Scott · Cosponsor
• Scott Conklin · Cosponsor
• Jeremy Shaffer · Cosponsor
• Nikki Rivera · Cosponsor
• Brandon Dukes · Cosponsor
• Jamie L. Flick · Cosponsor
• Tina M. Davis · Cosponsor
• Benjamin V. Sanchez · Cosponsor
• Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz · Cosponsor

Votes

Subjects