§ 1215Method of Marking Ballots and Depositing Same in Districts in Which Ballots are Used

(a) In districts in
which ballots are used, the elector, after receiving his ballot,
shall retire to one of the voting compartments, and draw the
curtain or shut the screen or door, and shall then prepare his
ballot.
   (b) At primaries, the elector shall prepare his ballot in
the following manner: He shall vote for the candidates of his
choice for nomination or election, according to the number of
persons to be voted for by him, for each office, by making a
cross (X) or check (✓) mark in the square opposite the name of
the candidate, or he may insert by writing or stamping in the
blank space provided therefor, any name not already printed on
the ballot, and such insertion shall count as a vote without
the making of a cross (X) or check (✓) mark. In districts in
which paper ballots or ballot cards are electronically
tabulated, stickers or labels may not be used to mark ballots.
((b) amended Oct. 31, 2019, P.L.552, No.77)
   (c) At elections, the elector shall prepare his ballot in
the following manner: He may vote for the candidates of his
choice for each office to be filled according to the number of

persons to be voted for by him for each office, by making a
cross (X) or check (✓) mark in the square opposite the name of
the candidate, or he may insert by writing or stamping in the
blank spaces provided therefor, any name not already printed
on the ballot, and such insertion shall count as a vote without
the making of a cross (X) or check (✓) mark. In districts in
which paper ballots or ballot cards are electronically
tabulated, stickers or labels may not be used to mark ballots.
If he desires to vote for every candidate of a political party
or political body, except its candidates for offices as to which
he votes for individual candidates in the manner hereinafter
provided, he may make a cross (X) or check (✓) mark in the
square opposite the name of the party or political body of his
choice in the party column on the left of the ballot, and every
such cross (X) or check (✓) mark shall be equivalent to and be
counted as a vote for every candidate of a party or political
body so marked, including its candidates for presidential
electors, except for those offices as to which he has indicated
a choice for individual candidates of the same or another party
or political body, by making a cross (X) or check (✓) mark
opposite their names in the manner hereinabove provided, as to
which offices his ballot shall be counted only for the
candidates which he has thus individually marked,
notwithstanding the fact that he made a mark in the party
column, and even though in the case of an office for which more
than one candidate is to be voted for, he has not individually
marked for such office the full number of candidates for which
he is entitled to vote. If he desires to vote for the entire
group of presidential electors nominated by any party or
political body, he may make a cross (X) or check (✓) mark in
the appropriate square at the right of the names of the
candidates for President and Vice-President of such party or
body. If he desires to vote a ticket for presidential electors
made up of the names of persons nominated by different parties
or political bodies, or partially of names of persons so in
nomination and partially of names of persons not in nomination
by any party or political body, or wholly of names of persons
not in nomination by any party or political body, he shall
insert, by writing or stamping, the names of the candidates for
presidential electors for whom he desires to vote in the blank
spaces provided therefor under the title of the office
"Presidential Electors." In case of a question submitted to the
vote of the electors, he may make a cross (X) or check (✓) mark
in the appropriate square opposite the answer which he desires
to give. ((c) amended Oct. 31, 2019, P.L.552, No.77)
   (d) Before leaving the voting compartment, the elector shall
fold his ballot, without displaying the markings thereon, in
the same way it was folded when received by him, and he shall
then leave the compartment and exhibit the ballot to one of the
election officers who shall ascertain by an inspection of the
number appearing upon the right hand corner of the back of the
ballot whether the ballot so exhibited to him is the same ballot
which the elector received before entering the voting
compartment. If it is the same, the election officer shall
direct the elector, without unfolding the ballot, to remove the
perforated corner containing the number, and the elector shall
immediately deposit the ballot in the ballot box. Any ballot
deposited in a ballot box at any primary or election without
having the said number torn off shall be void and shall not be
counted.
   (1215 amended Jan. 8, 1960, 1959 P.L.2142, No.790)