2023 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes › Title 25 - ELECTIONS › Chapter 12 - Registration System › Section 1203 - Commissions

§ 1203. Commissions.
(a) Establishment.--
A commission is established in each county. The commission has jurisdiction over the registration of applicants, qualified electors and registered electors of the county under this part.
(b) Membership.--
(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), the county commissioners of each county shall act as a registration commission for the county.
(2) In a city of the first class, the commission shall consist of the three elected commissioners of the city. Each commissioner shall be elected for a term of four years in the year that the mayor is elected.
(3) In counties which have adopted home rule charters or optional plans, the commission shall consist of the members of the county body which performs legislative functions unless the county charter or optional plan provides for the appointment of the commission. In either case, there must be minority representation on the commission. The county body which performs legislative functions shall, if the commission does not contain minority representation, appoint such representation from a list submitted by the county chair of the minority party.
(c) Compensation.--
Commissioners shall receive no compensation in addition to their compensation as county or city commissioners.
(d) Majority vote required.--
Actions of a commission must be decided by a majority vote of all members except as otherwise provided in this part.
(e) Records.--
A commission shall keep a permanent record of its proceedings.
(f) Regulations.--
A commission may make regulations, not inconsistent with this part, to do all of the following:
(1) Govern the public sessions of the commission.
(2) Perform the duties imposed by this part.
(3) Carry into effect the provisions of this part and permit the efficient administration of this part, including the designation of duties to be performed and functions to be exercised under this part at its respective offices.
(g) Enforcement.--
A commission may enforce regulations, orders and subpoenas as provided in section 1601 (relating to subpoenas and witness fees) and, if necessary, shall have the assistance of the appropriate court of common pleas and of all public officers subservient to the court in enforcing the regulations, orders and subpoenas.
(h) Errors.--
A commission shall correct an error or irregularity in registration and cancel the registration of an individual whom it finds to be improperly registered, subject only to this part. Written notice shall be mailed or delivered to each individual whose registration is canceled. Whenever a registered elector's name is changed for any reason, the registered elector's SURE registration number shall remain the same, and the file shall reflect the former name change to the new name.
(i) Investigation.--
A commission or a commissioner has the power to do any of the following:
(1) Summon and interrogate any person concerning the registration of electors or any matter related thereto.
(2) Investigate irregularities in registration.
(3) Summon and examine witnesses.
(4) Require the production of relevant documents.
(j) Oaths and affirmations.--
Each commissioner has the power to administer oaths and affirmations. Each individual testifying before a commission or commissioner must be sworn or affirmed.
(k) Correction of errors.--
(1) A commission shall correct its registration records without requiring action of a registered elector in any of the following cases:
(i) If the mailing address of the registered elector has been changed by the renaming of a street, the renumbering of a house or the changing of a post office.
(ii) If the election district of the registered elector has been changed through a change in the boundaries of an election district.
(2) Notice of action under paragraph (1) shall be mailed promptly to the affected registered elector.
(l) Update.--
A commission shall promptly update information contained in its registration records.
Cross References.
Section 1203 is referred to in section 1102 of this title.