SB 488 — An Act amending Title 25 (Elections) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in preliminary provisions relating to voter registration, further providing for definitions; in registration system, further providing for SURE system; in voter registration, further providing for qualifications to register and for government agencies, providing for preregistration data entry and further providing for preparation and distribution of applications; and, in changes in records, further providing for death of registrant.

Bill Text

• Printer's No. PN0460 View text Current pdf

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

The bill introduces a preregistration process for individuals aged 16 and 17 to facilitate their eventual voting eligibility while amending several sections related to voter registration.

• Section 1102

  "Preregistrant." A person who is at least 16 years of age, but not yet 18 years of age, who is otherwise eligible to register to vote in accordance with this part. "Preregistration." A process in which a preregistrant submits the information necessary for voter registration and inclusion into the SURE system in accordance with this part prior to the time at which the preregistrant is eligible to actively register to vote under section 1301 (relating to qualifications to register).

  This adds definitions for preregistrant and preregistration to clarify the process for individuals aged 16 and 17.

• Section 1222(c)

  (22) Contain a code to enable identification and tracking of preregistration status. (23) Automatically activate the registration of a preregistrant no later than the preregistrant's 18th birthday.

  This requires the SURE system to track preregistration status and to automatically register preregistrants when they reach 18.

• Section 1301(a)

  An individual who shall be eligible to register to vote if the individual: → Except as provided in subsection (a.1), an individual shall be eligible to register to vote if the individual:

  This clarifies the eligibility requirements for voter registration and introduces subsection (a.1).

• Section 1301

  (a.1) Preregistration.--Notwithstanding subsection (a)(1), a preregistrant may preregister to vote, provided that the preregistrant may not vote in any election before reaching 18 years of age.

  This allows preregistrants to register before they reach voting age, while restricting them from voting until they are 18.

• Section 1325(b)(4)

  you must not have been confined in a penal institution for a conviction of a felony within the last five years[.] → you must not have been confined in a penal institution for a conviction of a felony within the last five years. You may preregister to vote if you are at least 16 years of age, provided you may not vote in an election until you reach 18 years of age.

  This modifies language to inform individuals that they can preregister at 16, while still being ineligible to vote until 18.

• Section 1326.1

  In the case of preregistration, each commission shall enter preregistration information into the SURE system upon receipt of the information and ensure that each preregistrant is actively registered to vote no later than the preregistrant's 18th birthday.

  This mandates that commissions enter preregistration data into the SURE system and ensure timely registration.

• Section 1327(a)(4)(iii)

  unless the individual is at least 16 years of age and preregisters to vote, and has not been confined in a penal institution for a conviction of a felony within the last five years. → unless the individual is at least 16 years of age and preregisters to vote in the next election in which the individual reaches 18 years of age.

  This clarifies that individuals can preregister if they are at least 16 years old.

• Section 1505(a)

  18 → 16

  This updates the age reference for death notification from 18 to 16 in relation to preregistrants.

Action History

1. March 21, 2025

   Referred to State Government

Sponsors

• Maria Collett · Primary
• Sharif Street · Cosponsor
• Nikil Saval · Cosponsor
• Carolyn T. Comitta · Cosponsor
• Timothy P. Kearney · Cosponsor
• Art Haywood · Cosponsor
• John I. Kane · Cosponsor
• Jay Costa · Cosponsor
• Steven J. Santarsiero · Cosponsor
• Katie J. Muth · Cosponsor
• Lindsey M. Williams · Cosponsor

Subjects