An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in dates of elections and primaries and special elections, further providing for special elections for United States Senator and nominations and for nominations for special election for Representative in Congress, Senator and Representative in the General Assembly and member of council or legislative body of cities, boroughs, towns and townships; and, in nominations of candidates, further providing for number of signers required for nomination petitions of candidates at primaries, for nominations by minor political parties, for place and time of filing nomination petitions and filing fees and for nominations by political bodies, repealing provisions relating to filing fee and further providing for examination of nomination petitions, certificates and papers and return of rejected nomination petitions, certificates and papers and for vacancy in party nomination by failure to pay filing fee or for failure to file loyalty oath.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Ciresi and 4 co-sponsors

Pennsylvania bill modifies election procedures, nomination petition requirements, and filing standards to reshape how candidates qualify for federal, state, and local office.

Referred to State Government

Legislative bill overview

HB 2262 amends Pennsylvania's 1937 Election Code to modify procedural rules for elections and candidate nominations. The bill adjusts dates for elections and primaries, reforms special election procedures for federal and state offices, and revises requirements for nomination petitions—including the number of required signatures, filing fees, and loyalty oath provisions.

Why is this important

Election code changes directly affect voter access, candidate participation, and the mechanics of how elections function. These procedural modifications could influence ballot composition, campaign timelines, and the ease with which candidates from major and minor parties can qualify for office in Pennsylvania, a politically significant state.

Potential points of contention

Signature requirement changes: Altering petition signer thresholds may help or hinder minor party and independent candidates depending on direction; lower thresholds expand ballot access while higher ones protect ballot integrity

Filing fee provisions: Repealing some filing fee language while modifying fee structures affects candidate accessibility—lower fees benefit grassroots candidates but may reduce filtering of frivolous candidacies

Loyalty oath elimination: Removing loyalty oath requirements eliminates a historical gatekeeping mechanism, raising questions about candidate vetting while potentially removing barriers some view as outdated or unnecessarily restrictive

Election date shifts: Changes to primary and election dates affect campaign planning, voter preparation, and coordination with federal election timelines