{"id":42324,"date":"2020-10-30T14:21:16","date_gmt":"2020-10-30T18:21:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ciccarelli.com\/philadelphia-injury-lawyers\/?p=42324"},"modified":"2023-01-05T13:56:07","modified_gmt":"2023-01-05T17:56:07","slug":"pennsylvania-polling-place-laws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ciccarelli.com\/philadelphia-injury-lawyers\/pennsylvania-polling-place-laws\/","title":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania Polling Place Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pennsylvania is one of five states at a high risk for activity by armed groups and militias around the Nov. 3 election, according to a recent report. As the rhetoric is ratcheted up,\u00a0 many Philadelphia voters worry for their overall safety. Voter intimidation, or any threatening behavior at polls for that matter, is illegal by federal law and by Pennsylvania law, punishable by imprisonment. But the lines can get quickly blurred when the Election Code does not address firearms directly, and no current law restricts carrying guns into polling places unless they are located at a school or court facility (<\/span>18 Pa. C.S. \u00a7 912<\/span><\/a>). In fact, Pennsylvania\u2019s statute limits the country from regulating firearms, if the possession and use is lawful (<\/span>18 Pa.C.S. 6120<\/span>).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That said, Philadelphia\u2019s response to voter intimidation and Pennsylvania\u2019s guidelines concerning poll watchers, for the most part, are clear and unyielding. Just this month, Philadelphia\u2019s judge ruled against the Trump campaign\u2019s attempt to have unauthorized poll watchers at satellite election offices, and Philadelphia\u2019s DA created an Election Task Force with a hotline specifically to address voter intimidation and any potential threat at election polls.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Pennsylvania<\/p>\n

What are Philadelphia\u2019s Laws for Poll Watchers?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

To become an authorized poll watcher (<\/b>25. P.S. \u00a72687<\/b><\/a>):<\/b> You must be a qualified registered elector of the county you are looking to poll watch. Poll watchers must be assigned to specific precincts, receive official county credentials ahead of time, and identify themselves. As a poll watcher, you are required to have a certificate from the County Board of Elections with your name and the name of the candidate or political party you represent. Each party may appoint up to three poll watchers per precinct and each candidate may appoint two watchers per precinct.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Note: <\/b>Per the Election Code (<\/span>25 P.S. \u00a7 3060<\/span><\/a>), campaigning is not permitted at the polling place. Local election officers, poll workers, and poll watchers are prohibited from wearing partisan attire or carrying other campaigning material.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Exactly is Considered \u201cVoter Intimidation?\u201d<\/b><\/h2>\n

Voter intimidation is any activity or behavior that interferes with the voter\u2019s right to vote, and it is important to note that this includes activity that happens inside or outside of the polling place and the time frame of Election Day. Voter intimidation is illegal and can involve harassing, threatening, or coercive acts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Voter Intimidation Statute:<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

In Pennsylvania, the statute is \u201c<\/span>25 P.S. \u00a7 3547<\/span><\/a>: Prohibiting Duress and Intimidation of Voters and Interference with the Free Exercise of the Elective Franchise.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Voter intimidation can include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n