Pennsylvania: Protections Against Intimidation of Voters and Election Workers

Voters in Pennsylvania have the right to vote free from intimidation under federal and state law.footnote1_wCHWUFy5–4EH6BozBf17M025dhiddsZRyQ5lkAu9urc_ch1jsCj8NPij1 See, e.g., 18 U.S.C. §§ 594, 241; 52 U.S.C. § 10101(b); 25 Pa. Stat. §§ 3547(a)–(b), 3527, 3528. The federal protections that apply to all states are explained here. The following actions are specifically prohibited by Pennsylvania law:

• Using or threatening to use force or violence to compel any person to vote or refrain from voting, to vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate or question, or to register or refrain from registering to vote.footnote2_NbD1igqH-xN8M1qMtTumAEzI7Q261krjeJOm4ZHCS8_x92stFrczf7Y2 25 Pa. Stat. § 3547(a); see also 25 Pa. Stat. §§ 3527, 3528.
• Interfering with the ability of any elector to vote through duress, coercion, force, or fraud.footnote3_nQBeq0Orn8fIWdqB9DVVRkYzdofL3Mubj-SDnV9J98_fMRC37VjQEA53 25 Pa. Stat. § 3547(b).
• Blocking or attempting to block the entrance or exit of any polling place.footnote4_2ZvPl8GC0zJ9XAlbst61uJ6dCB4nKhQ3YUUpHxIl0TE_rThNfivvRDpH4 25 Pa. Stat. § 3527.

In addition, the Pennsylvania Department of State specifies that intimidation includes “disseminating false or misleading election information, including information on voting eligibility, polling place procedures, polling place hours, or voting methods.”footnote5_qKMMkRnFqS48R0i5PRF2HIlYHQP22G4Eyaw094orCU_omdTsoLyWFqI5 Pennsylvania Department of State, Guidance Concerning Poll Watchers and Authorized Representatives, September 22, 2025, at 3, https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/dos/resources/voting-and-elections/directives-and-guidance/2025/guidance_poll%20watchers%20and%20authorized%20representatives_092225.pdf.

The below addresses the laws that serve as guardrails against specific threats of intimidation.

Voter Challenges

Although Pennsylvania permits any qualified voter, election official, overseer, or poll watcher to challenge another voter’s eligibility,footnote6_hWbILVmI-ohNPhOjNq92dbYa0OOQhUKSJqtSQ6YgQ2E_cXvRQeZvGLgG6 25 Pa. Stat. §§ 1329(a), 3050(d). state law also provides for some guardrails:

• Challenges must be in good faith and may only be brought regarding a voter’s identity or residency.footnote7_zMXBIb4Yu0xKjlYf07bKmL468TVgm-LfHBygV6Lq5p8_srkJjhlRaSv77 Pennsylvania Department of State, Guidance on Rules in Effect at the Polling Place on Election Day, April 2025, 7–8, https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/dos/resources/voting-and-elections/directives-and-guidance/2025/2025–04-guidance-rules-atpollingplace-on-electionday-2.1.pdf.   Thus, challenges based at all on race, national origin, appearance, surname, language, religion, or some other characteristic unrelated to the qualifications to vote are not permitted.footnote8_gTld0D923NmosQ9Ppqf46d-hTYwTBA2FANszSQLHMcY_y6cmAfqv6F0Q8 Pennsylvania Department of State, Guidance Concerning Poll Watchers and Authorized Representatives, 5.
• Challenges must be directed to the judge of elections, who shall determine if the challenge is based on actual evidence and if there is a good-faith basis to believe the challenged person is not qualified to vote.footnote9_QsVqA2fZde6KhvEAA9ysz1X61y-QembHMq4qV6E4aQ_nFKkxEvU1ehJ9Id.In determining the qualifications of electors, the judge of elections must “impartially and faithfully perform [his or her] duties,” as required by the oath taken before each election.footnote10_tWIkDKGKyknshUljt5-zhCltuuv7n95JLYBtSNjEJs_usbSIZYa48EE10 25 Pa. Stat. § 2677.
• Judges of elections are prohibited from allowing “routine or frivolous challenges that are not supported by a stated good faith basis and evidence that a person is or may not be eligible.”footnote11_32GUcgBuiy9ZcOeOSOfPPTV3EnhaWSniCWUXUYR4o_ne9NRzrhkyIY11 Pennsylvania Department of State, Guidance Concerning Poll Watchers and Authorized Representatives, 2025, 5.
• A voter may not be refused a regular ballot unless the election officials of the precinct are satisfied that the challenger has properly proven the voter’s ineligibility with sufficient evidence.footnote12_QsVqA2fZde6KhvEAA9ysz1X61y-QembHMq4qV6E4aQ_umzYK6BT8AI012Id.

The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) provides additional safeguards to protect voters from mass challenges before an election:

• The NVRA expressly recognizes that National Change of Address information is not sufficient on its own to serve as the basis for canceling a voter’s registration.footnote13_Y0qs7oOLSHbOlgjFGfjv4np0mXQwE-7AUN8FyXaiWU_po3Hl8VoxRjr13 52 U.S.C. § 20507(c)(1)(B).
• The NVRA prohibits the systematic removal of voters from the rolls within 90 days of a federal election.footnote14_gMU4pKaaGGtR0djXke9owYAHAATVZbmZt7GBXP2Bc7Y_hwuj2kXGaymr14 52 U.S.C. § 20507(c)(2)(A).

More information about the limitations and process for voter challenges in Pennsylvania can be found here.

Intimidation of Poll Workers and Election Officials

In addition to federal protections against the intimidation of election workers, it is a crime in Pennsylvania to prevent or attempt to prevent any election official from holding the election, interfere with the execution of their duties, or use or threaten any violence against an election official.footnote15_GGRXotIq3pind10q6KLyqORhXqj45Rgq5egJmCDfnKY_uhJUTzFYtWGm15 25 Pa. Stat. § 3527. It is illegal for any person, including an election official, to refuse to permit any election official, clerk, or machine inspector to perform their duties or to threaten violence against any such person.footnote16_9Ae4zIJO8MicCL1gpIPvUClDTMx8MyJx1jwFJhfwovk_klDoa3YPmAiK16 25 Pa. Stat. § 3508.

Voter Intimidation by Poll Workers

The Brennan Center and All Voting is Local published a detailed resource on the rules and constraints for Pennsylvania poll workers here.

Intimidation by Poll Watchers

In addition to Pennsylvania’s intimidation laws detailed above, state law places limits on who may serve as poll watchers and what they may and may not do:

• Watchers must be a qualified registered elector of the county in which they are appointed to serve.footnote17_jLzaEluFw77YaTSBYNOWmqOpkmHvMNj8QxYgBQCq8YM_icOMyvvaGDMd17 25 Pa. Stat. § 2687(b).
• Each candidate may appoint two poll watchers per electoral district in which he or she is on the ballot, and each political party that has nominated candidates on the ballot may appoint three poll watchers for each district in which those candidates will appear on the ballot.footnote18_i2QMOas6bE83GhR2IDgANDFKrIeOq-Sp0dH0Me0SY_f5O1Q9R9ESDK18 25 Pa. Stat. § 2687(a).
• Watchers can keep a list of voters and make good-faith challenges against any voter’s identity or residency. When no voters are present at a polling place, watchers can also inspect the voting checklist and the list of voters maintained by the county board; however, they may only do so under the supervision of a poll worker.footnote19_6C2BFrDF5XtCBz1NfvMYJRc3Bv1irZsYY40-SidkKcw_yGrtdI0UzaYR19 25 Pa. Stat. § 2687(b).
• Watchers may not engage in certain activities, including speaking directly to or threatening voters, asking voters for documentation, or blocking a polling place entrance.footnote20_xZevC4mxztZFIS4AqFWP0Pm3AmZUgn3AFfIwrPZAM34_x2abdPyVbEsz20 Pennsylvania Department of State, Guidance Concerning Poll Watchers and Authorized Representatives, 2025, 3–4.
• Watchers must show their certificate from the county board of elections stating their name and the name of the candidate or party they represent upon request.footnote21_NbgfWppr6JQW-WpB1BWXHX575wGVDM-l-50LVM11uo_pXcoI1RJicTh21Id., 2.

Judges of elections must remove watchers who are engaging in prohibited activities.footnote22_kJVOXVy3zdoTjCzYiddB0NJQIJZ6JvDwydLQtJQLrmM_mphG29bJWzTk22Id., 4.

Law Enforcement and Military at Polling Places

Although on-duty law enforcement officers are generally prohibited from being within 100 feet of a polling place, they may be called upon by election officials or any three qualified electors of an election district to handle disturbances and maintain order.footnote23_-0ea29Tj92uuCJExlYipBncIg4w9OhWT-KvB94QZV8_udiwutd7k6op23 25 Pa. Stat. § 3047.

Federal law further limits the presence of the military and other armed federal agents at polling places:

•  It is a felony for any federal official to send troops or armed persons to a polling place, unless “such force [is] necessary to repel armed enemies of the United States.”footnote24_Mj1i7gWgTvACQim2ojbR6sWnZXUFngPpY7s76t3kLI_wib7R2TNaJlt24 18 U.S.C. § 592.
• It is a felony for a member of the military to intimidate voters or interfere with elections.footnote25_e0dPpCwFaoVK24j2SeoFGQ3dWbvv37u83Zd7Tds1OEY_bruqanNTwGeO25 18 U.S.C. § 593; see also 52 U.S.C. 10102.

Guns at Polling Places

Pennsylvania law prohibits carrying weapons, including guns, in a number of places that are commonly used as polling places and drop box locations, such as schools and courthouses.footnote26_UrewjKGEMONpArvCe3h1v2F95BMMKp-fWlvGYy17hI_ep7fzRob56Os26 18 Pa. Stat. §§ 912, 913.

Even at locations where firearms are not expressly prohibited, firearm carry may constitute unlawful intimidation. Such conduct may consist of carrying a visible firearm near a polling location or at a drop box or vote-counting site, displaying a concealed firearm during a discussion or argument with a voter or election worker, or approaching a voter or election worker while displaying a firearm.

Door-to-Door Intimidation

Pennsylvania law and federal law prohibit canvassing efforts that are used to intimidate voters.footnote27_aVMDdCh1tVKPGOOrCw23MY91a63-ZT4NUx1wJgA9XOE_uPBYUaHiZTsi27 18 U.S.C. §§ 594, 241; 25 Pa. Stat. §§ 3547(a)–(b). Any voter who receives a visit from a privately organized canvassing group does not have to answer any questions and should report any incidents of intimidation to their local officials. Additionally, it is a misdemeanor in Pennsylvania to impersonate a public official.footnote28_JW6kFCinUslSWdToP63PQo9Qgw1n8S0DqIxRkIiSk_zywzYcVBAxCy28 18 Pa. Stat. § 4912.