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Bill

Bill

HB 479

An Act amending Title 25 (Elections) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in voter registration, further providing for methods of voter registration, providing for same-day voter registration and further providing for preparation and distribution of applications.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ryan Bizzarro and 26 co-sponsors

HB 479 permits same-day voter registration in Pennsylvania and modifies application distribution methods to expand registration accessibility before elections.

Referred to State Government
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 479

Legislative bill overview

HB 479 amends Pennsylvania's election law to expand voter registration opportunities by enabling same-day voter registration and modifying how registration applications are prepared and distributed. The bill updates existing registration methods under Title 25 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to streamline the registration process.

Why is this important

Voter registration access directly affects electoral participation rates. Same-day registration removes a temporal barrier to voting and could increase turnout, particularly among previously unregistered eligible voters. The changes to application preparation and distribution could either simplify the registration process or create new administrative requirements depending on implementation details.

Potential points of contention

  • Administrative burden vs. election security: Opponents may argue same-day registration reduces time for election officials to verify voter eligibility and detect fraudulent applications, while proponents counter that modern databases enable real-time verification
  • Implementation costs: Counties may face expenses for staffing, training, and systems updates to handle same-day registration at polling locations or early voting sites
  • Partisan implications: Election administration changes historically face partisan scrutiny; some argue same-day registration increases Democratic participation while others view it as essential voter access

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

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