Pennsylvania bill sets deadlines for election appeals and results

Courts hearing appeals from county election board decisions would have to decide them within seven days after filing. The deadline applies to appeals from decisions of county boards of elections. The seven-day period starts when the appeal is filed.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth would have to certify and file statewide vote totals by the fifth Tuesday after certain elections, and send a warning notice if that deadline appears at risk. The certification deadline covers general, municipal, and special elections. The notice is required if the Secretary has reason to believe the deadline will be missed. The notice must go to legislative leaders and the chairs and minority chairs of the State Government committees in both chambers. The notice must explain the concerns and possible barriers to timely certification. If a delay appears likely, the Secretary must send the notice no later than seven days before the fifth Tuesday after election day.

Judges deciding election contests would have to decide who received the most legal votes within seven days after the petition is filed; a party harmed by the decision could appeal to the state Supreme Court within one day. These rules concern court decisions in election contests and appeals by parties affected by those decisions. The Supreme Court would have to decide within six days after the appeal is filed, or by the earlier deadline tied to the meeting of presidential electors. The Supreme Court's deadline is six days after the appeal is filed or the earlier deadline tied to the presidential electors' meeting.