An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, establishing the Election Fellowship Pilot Program.

PRINTER'S NO. 2961
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2263
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY SHUSTERMAN, HILL-EVANS, NEILSON, SANCHEZ, MAYES,
D. WILLIAMS, FREEMAN, BOROWSKI AND STEELE, MARCH 4, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 5, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled
"An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,
special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,
primary and election expenses and election contests; creating
and defining membership of county boards of elections;
imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;
imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,
revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and
repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to
elections," establishing the Election Fellowship Pilot
Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known
as the Pennsylvania Election Code, is amended by adding an
article to read:
ARTICLE XVI-B
ELECTION FELLOWSHIP PILOT PROGRAM
Section 1601-B. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
"Department." The Department of State of the Commonwealth.
"Eligible individual." An individual who meets the
eligibility requirements under section 1607-B.
"Participating county." A county selected by the department
under section 1604-B(1) to participate in the pilot program.
"Pilot program." The Election Fellowship Pilot Program
established under section 1602-B.
Section 1602-B. Establishment.
The Election Fellowship Pilot Program is established within
the department to provide eligible individuals experience in the
management and administration of elections.
Section 1603-B. Implementation and administration.
The department and participating counties shall implement and
administer the pilot program, subject to the availability of
money for the pilot program.
Section 1604-B. Duties of department.
In implementing and administering the pilot program, the
department shall:
(1) Randomly select the following counties to
participate in the pilot program:
(i) Two counties of the third class.
(ii) Two counties of the fourth class.
(iii) Two counties of the fifth class.
(iv) Two counties of the sixth class.
(v) Two counties of the seventh class.
(vi) Two counties of the eighth class.
(2) Establish a process for an eligible individual to
apply for and participate in the pilot program.
(3) Collaborate with participating counties to determine
the duties of eligible individuals selected to participate in
20260HB2263PN2961 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
the pilot program.
(4) Ensure that eligible individuals selected to
participate in the pilot program receive experience in the
management and administration of elections through
participation in the pilot program.
(5) Adopt policies and procedures and establish forms as
necessary to implement and administer the pilot program.
Section 1605-B. Duties of participating counties.
In implementing and administering the pilot program, a
participating county shall:
(1) Recruit and select eligible individuals to
participate in the pilot program by selecting the individuals
to work in the county board of elections office from August 1
through December 30 of each year that the pilot program is in
operation, beginning August 1 of the year following the
effective date of this paragraph.
(2) Collaborate with the department to determine the
duties of eligible individuals selected to participate in the
pilot program.
(3) Adopt policies and procedures and establish forms as
necessary to implement and administer the pilot program.
Section 1606-B. Compensation.
A participating county may compensate an eligible individual
for participation in the pilot program, with the amount of
compensation determined by the participating county.
Section 1607-B. Eligibility.
An individual shall be eligible to participate in the pilot
program if the individual is a resident of this Commonwealth and
will be 18 years of age or older on the starting date of
participation in the pilot program.
20260HB2263PN2961 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Section 1608-B. Appropriation.
The General Assembly shall appropriate money to:
(1) The department from the General Fund for the
implementation and administration of the pilot program.
(2) A participating county from the General Fund for the
implementation and administration of the pilot program,
including for the compensation of an eligible individual in
accordance with section 1606-B.
Section 1609-B. Operations.
(a) Commencement.--The pilot program shall commence
operations on August 1 of the year after the General Assembly
appropriates money to the department for the implementation and
administration of the pilot program.
(b) Conclusion.--The pilot program shall conclude operations
three years after the date of commencement of its operations.
Section 1610-B. Reporting.
(a) Issuance.--No later than 90 days after the pilot program
concludes its operations, the department shall collaborate with
participating counties to issue a report evaluating the outcomes
of the pilot program, including recommendations regarding
whether the pilot program should continue and be expanded
throughout this Commonwealth.
(b) Submittal.--The department shall submit the report under
this section to all of the following:
(1) The Governor.
(2) The President pro tempore of the Senate.
(3) The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(4) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
State Government Committee of the Senate.
(5) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
20260HB2263PN2961 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
State Government Committee of the House of Representatives.
(c) Posting.--The department shall post the report under
this section on its publicly accessible Internet website.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20260HB2263PN2961 - 5 -
1
2
3
4