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Bill

HB 981

An Act amending Title 25 (Elections) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in preliminary provisions relating to voter registration, further providing for standardized forms and for applications; and, in voter registration, further providing for preparation and distribution of applications and providing for government service facilitation.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Aaron Bernstine and 3 co-sponsors

HB 981 updates Pennsylvania voter registration forms and procedures while establishing government service facilitation mechanisms for registration distribution and processing.

Referred to Communications & Technology
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 981

Legislative bill overview

HB 981 modifies Pennsylvania's voter registration procedures by updating standardized registration forms and applications, and establishing new provisions for "government service facilitation" in voter registration. The bill appears aimed at streamlining how registration materials are prepared, distributed, and processed across the state's election infrastructure.

Why is this important

Voter registration procedures directly affect ballot access and election administration efficiency. Changes to standardized forms and distribution methods can impact registration rates, accuracy of voter rolls, and administrative costs for county election offices. Government service facilitation provisions could expand registration opportunities through state agencies, similar to "motor voter" type programs.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition clarity: The bill's language around "government service facilitation" is vague without the full text—it could range from online registration systems to controversial automatic registration depending on implementation details
  • Unfunded mandates: Counties may face costs for reprinting forms and retraining staff on new procedures without state funding
  • Partisan implementation concerns: Changes to registration procedures historically draw partisan scrutiny regarding whether modifications expand or restrict registration access, and which voter demographics are affected

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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